Musing at what Jeff says about a better plan on how to take Gameplay back, Folk takes another spoonful of their scrumptious dessert, then looks back at his former colleague in bewilderment. "Intereshthing," he said while chewing. "What do you have in mind?"

"Sorry, Folk, but that's top secret: that's for me only."

"And you'll yoosh them – Shilla and Charybdish?"

"Yes - to my advantage."

Nodding, Folk swallows his food. "Okay. I won't even bother asking you how: it's for you only, right?" He raises an eyebrow along with the inquiry.

"That's right," said Jeff, sealing that decision with a playful wink.

"Alright. Going back, if what happened to you was really a setup, who do you think was behind it?"

"I have two choices, but I only need one – Sutthirak."

"That's a hard accusation, Jeff. You'll have to do a lot to prove that."

"I know, but with what had happened before and all the things we've discussed just now, the dots all connect: they all point to him."

Folk pouts his lips as he puts his elbow atop the table. After which, he rests his chin on top of his knuckles, balancing evenly. Looking to the sky, he weighs in on Jeff's conclusions.

"It fits right?" Jeff continued. "I discovered Scylla and Charybdis; I set a meeting to discuss how we can repair and track them properly; it never took place; I got involved in a scandal; I went to jail."

"I get that, but how can you implicate Top if there is no hint of him in any of this?"

"He was at Sky Bar that night too."

"Okay. The plot thickens now. What's he doing there?" Folk straightens in his chair, takes another spoonful of the sticky rice with sweet sauce, and starts chewing away.

"Having some drink himself. When he saw me enter, he waved at me from where he was seated. As respect, I joined him at his table but declined his invitation to have a drink together. Then, I went to the bar table alone."

"I see. Then, from there, Opp approached you and everything happened?" Folk asked after swallowing what is in his mouth.

"More like when everything fell into place. Before I drank the Mudslide, I looked back to see if Sutthirak was still in his table; he was gone."

"For me, these are all conjectures and theories. You need something in a game-changing level for him to confess to that screw job that you think he did."

"I'll get him to sing: that's what I will do."

"And how do you suppose to get Top to sing a song to your tune, Mister Satur."

Jeff, as he eats another chunk of the sticky rice, gives Folk the same playful wink he did earlier.

"Oh, so silly of me. I forgot that it's on you," joked Folk, rolling his eyes before taking in some tapioca balls in his mouth.

"Yup, never forget that," seconded Jeff, with a mocking smile on his face which makes him handsomely naughty. "Now, if I remember correctly, last year, while I was still with Le Cargaison, we celebrated the twenty-ninth anniversary of the company, right?"

"That's right. This year is their Pearl."

"And when's the feast?"

"Friday of the next week. No outsider's invited, Jeff: it's for employees and special guests," forewarned Folk.

"Don't worry. I didn't get any invitation."

"Why did you ask? What's going on in your head, Mister Satur?" Folk's tone is stern and for a good reason, as he doesn't want his former colleague to do something that will probably land him in prison again.

"Will GP be in there that day?"

"Probably. He is the CEO's priority-one guy."

"I'm going to take back GP on that day?" Jeff's smile could have overtaken his ears, as if he has just gained a victory.

Folk chuckles in his seat, almost choking on his drink with what Jeff has just said.

"What's funny in that?" asked Jeff, exasperation suddenly overcoming him.

"Surely, you do have something better in mind than going to Le Cargaison in a red clown suit, disguised as part of the show for Top and his guest, then running off with Chef Gameplay while everyone is not looking. Do you?"

"Of course, Folk, but don't ask how I'll do it. It's on..."

"Yeah, yeah. It's on you; I forgot; pardon me." Folk takes the last chunk of sticky rice and puts it in his mouth.

"Apology accepted," said Jeff, to which Folk rolls his eyes again. "But, yeah, I'm serious with what I said – dead serious."

"I admire your passion, but still, I wonder how you will use Scylla and Charybdis here. Just be careful: what you're planning to do is like taking down a fortress."

"Don't worry; I will," assured Jeff, tapping the other on his shoulder. "On another thing, Folk, about those printouts you brought here."

"What about them?"

"Can you leave them with me – all of them?"

"Sure. You told me to get them in the first place."

"Great. Thanks again."

"You owe me six now." Folk increments his debt from five some moments ago.

"Don't worry. I'll give that six to you in one form or another," said Jeff, scraping his saucer with the last of his dessert. "So, who are you going with to that thirtieth-year celebration?"

"My plan was to go with my boyfriend, Petch. He was one of our junior staff in IT."

"You're into kids now, Folk? That's abuse of minor," said Jeff, letting his chuckle die down before putting the food in his mouth.

"Actually, he is older than me by two years. He is a junior because he is just new with the company. Silly."

"How long hash he bheen with Le Cargaishon?" asked Jeff, the sound of him breaking down his food subtly incontrovertible.

"Eight months."

"Wait, but yhou shed..." Jeff stops speaking to relieve his mouth of its contents. "You said he was a junior IT member. Is he not still?"

"Petch got the boot along with hundreds of other rookie employees."

"What?!" exclaimed Jeff. The surprise in his face is like that of someone who has seen a real-life Sentinel robot that is walking the streets and looking for mutants to seize.

"The announcement came last Friday just after lunch time. Petch got an e-mail informing him that his contract has been terminated. Come tomorrow – Monday – the first twenty that received a similar e-mail will no longer have to report to their respective groups: they are to go directly to HR for the processing of their exit pay."

"That's cruel."

"Barbaric is my choice of adjective for that."

"What's the company's reason for cutting off the manpower like that?"

"To save money they said, but that's bull if you ask me. In our last townhall meeting about a month ago, the higher-ups shared to us how Le Cargaison exceeded their target revenue for this quarter."

"So, how's Petch now?"

"Sad for one like I am."

"You should get his hopes up."

"I'm doing that. Though sometimes, I can't help but feel down like he does."

"And you said that there were hundreds more that were laid off?"

"Yes. I think every department in Le Cargaison had their share of what we call The Culling Of The Innocents."

"Sounds biblical to me."

"And guess who the god is?"

"Sutthirak for 500?"

"DING! DING! DING! Good answer, Mister Satur!" exclaimed Folk, sounding like Samuel L. Jackson in one of his movies. "Oh. By the way, speaking of jobs, have you secured one yourself?" he asked, returning his tone to its default.

"Yes, at CBOT."

"A bank? What do you know about banking?"

"Don't worry. I'm neither a teller nor an accountant there."

"What will you be there?"

"Same as in Le Cargaison – Security Administrator."

"Why a bank? You can get a hefty pay if you work in an IT company, you know."

"Change of environment, I guess." Jeff takes his glass of water.

"I see. When will you start?" Folk drinks on his glass, winning against Jeff had they been racing to do it.

"Monday next week." Jeff talks a couple of gulp of water from his vulnerable container.

"You have an entire week free, I see. Any plans?"

"I'll use that time to complete my pre-employment requirements."

"Fair enough. Keep the printouts safe," reminded Folk with stress.

"Don't worry, they're safe with me."

"They better be, or my head will roll off next."

For Jeff, he already has an agenda on what he will do on that free week, which he is not in a mood to share with Folk – not even remotely close enough to give hints about it.

After dessert, Folk did not stay for long. He helps both his hosts in the kitchen, lending a hand in washing the dishes and cleaning the sink. Once they are done, he bids them goodbye, and Jeff gives him a lift to the nearest bus stop at Kamphaeng Phet 7 Road – the main highway.

"What's wrong Folk?" asked Jeff, seeing his friend staring blankly at the window as they approach the last turn that will bring them to the main highway.

"I'm just thinking about how you will carry out your plan about taking back Chef Gameplay," replied Folk in the midst of the Westlife's version of Home that is currently playing inside the car. "I know it's on you, so don't say it anymore. Please."

"Are you worried?" Jeff makes a right turn at the fork.

"Yeah." The smooth tone in which Folk said it screams concern. "From where I see, you can't hit two birds with one stone in this situation: it's Operation Get Either Or."

"I will play this correctly, so in the end, there is a high chance that this will turn out to be Operation Get This And That."

"Fingers crossed, my friend. This will not be easy." Folk's glances at Jeff with worried eyes. "Be careful."

"Thank you. Don't worry. I know what I'm doing, and I will not implicate you. You have my word," assured Jeff.

"Word taken," nodded Folk as they stop at an intersection because of a red light while in the rightmost lane. "I'll see you on the next Friday, then?"

"I won't be there." Jeff, before Folk can inquire another time, gears Eleanor to drive, as the red light turns green, moving forward slowly. "Here we are. Take care going home," he said again, stopping on the next corner and turning his Hazard Lights on.

"Thanks for lunch, Jeff. The foods were great," said Folk, giving light taps on Jeff's shoulder before holding it firmly. "Give my regards to Miss Janine."

"I will. Actually, she only cooked the sticky rice. The rest are courtesy of whatever I found delicious in Grab."

"But, just for last time, how will you take Chef Gameplay if you will not be physically there at Le Cargaison?" tried Folk, hoping that Jeff will give the answer to him as a parting gift.

For the last time as well, Jeff does his playful wink at Folk. He, however, did not answer the question.

"You know that you look very cute when you do that," said Folk, running his eyes all over Jeff's face.

"Of course, I am," said Jeff, not dropping the smirk that he did along with the other gesture. "Is this..."

Suddenly, Folk lunges forwards, homing in on Jeff's open mouth, sealing it shut with his own and cutting off the other while in mid-sentence.

With eyes that are on the verge of popping out of their sockets, Jeff is unable to react, being astounded and stunned all the same time. Despite being in the middle of a snogging, he doesn't echo the act back.

"One...Two...Three." With eyes closed, Folk counts using the voice in his head. It is a fair count with the intervals between seconds all equal. He tilts his head to the opposite direction after, then proceeds to kiss Jeff further.

"Four...Four-and-a-half...Five...Five and half a quarter...Five and three quarters...Six." Folk cheats the last three seconds of their act – more like his one-sided act since Jeff is like a breathing statue from his seat. This time, he becomes bold enough, invoking his tongue and using it as a writing instrument to trace lines and shapes in a clean and wet canvass – the inside of Jeff's mouth – the likes and types of which have not yet been named in Geometry.

Jeff is about to push Folk away from him when he feels that his lips are slowly being let go.

"Now you're paid," said Folk, slowly revealing a pair of orbs that emanates fulfillment instead of happiness.

"What do you mean?" Jeff's eyes are still enlarged, as if they have been infected with something that causes serious inflammation.

"Six debts paid in six seconds."

"I don't understand. What I had in mind is something different."

"No, Jeff. Six seconds of what I did is already enough payment."

"But why did you kiss me?" Jeff starts to loosen up his being tensed.

"I still have a crush on you. Though the circumstances now are a little funny," replied Folk, chuckling.

"What do you mean by circumstances?"

"Before, you had Chef Gameplay, and I was still single: we cannot be together. Now, you are single, but I'm the one who has a boyfriend – still a no for us. Funny, isn't it?"

"That is something beyond me to answer. Maybe you'd be better with Petch instead of me." Jeff combs his hair back with his hands – a very manly action that can magnetize men and women alike. "So, you've been liking me all this time? From the first time we met at Le Cargaison?"

"Yeah, and don't laugh or I'll kiss you again." Folk imitates the playful wink that Jeff has been giving him since earlier. "Good luck with your plan, Jeff, and I hope you will be successful," he continued, giving the other's shoulder a light squeeze. Afterwards, he unbuckles his seatbelt, while Jeff clicks the car's centralized lock, releasing all the doors of Eleanor.

"Thanks." Jeff's one-worder is for many things and not just the information that Folk shared earlier. "Take care."

"Likewise to you. I hope that what happened here, stays here." Folk gets out of the car after and walks into the sidewalk on the right. Jeff, then, directs Eleanor to the left most lane to prepare for a U-turn that will take him back to Saeng Thong Alley.

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Author's Note

I released this because I got ecstatic and excited: it's about my other book in another platform :)

AND WE HAVE OUR GHOST SHIP, FELLOW SATURNRABBITS!!

Oh my sweet Folk - harboring his feelings for Jeff all this time. That six - no, more like ten-second - kiss must have felt like and eternity for the both of them. 

Although, I'm curious on how Jeff will execute his plan, and to do it on the anniversary of Top's company seems borderline stupidity and bravery. Besides, he still needs a fill of extra information about Scylla and Charybdis, does he? How will he do this?

Stay tuned for release of the next chapter - Subtle - on the next coming days.

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