05. Through Glass

"How much is real? So much to question. An epidemic of the mannequins, contaminating everything. We thought came from the heart but never did right from the start."- Through Glass by Stone Sour

•••

It was almost two weeks since the last time Win stayed overnight at Bright's condo. They often hangout with other friends in a cafe after various practicing sessions. Most of the time, Win would drop Bright off his condo. But that day, Win had not met with Bright yet.

In the morning, Win had script reading session for his new series. He entered the building after greeting his fans in the lobby and the schedule ended on 3 PM. He decided to come out of the building through the emergency exit as he was kind of in a rush to have dinner with his family.

Yes. Win was in hurry.

"Ai Win!"

Win stopped. He turned his head to the other side and found Bright waving his hand, ordering him to come closer.

Bright was not alone. He was with First, again, and another senior named Toy.

Win approached them while bowing slightly and his palms pressed together in front of his chest. "Sawasdee khrab, Phi."

"Why are you in a rush?"

"Oh, I have promised my mom to have dinner together." Win answered Bright. "I'm worried for the traffic since it's Friday."

"Then, help me tomorrow."

"Help you?"

"Hmm." Bright confirmed. "Be my substitute in friendly match with NTV friends. I've got appointment tomorrow, so I suggested to postpone it until Sunday but they could not. Do you have another schedule tomorrow?"

"No khrab."

"Then, will you go with First?" Bright offered him again. "There will be First, P'Toy, P'Tay, and P'Gunsmile. They are all people you know and good at talking."

"Khrab."

"Ok?"

"Ok khrab."

"Great. Thanks. Now, I have to go home." Bright caught Win's arm, shook it a little bit. "See you later."

"Khrab, Phi. Take care."

Win watched Bright walking away until his back disappeared from his sight. He looked at the place where Bright touched earlier. Win could not help but thinking that Bright was still in brokenhearted state because the recovery was too unbelievable. Bright was cheerful.

"You can go home, too, Ai Win." First successfully called Win back to reality. "Don't let your family waiting for you."

"But tomorrow..."

"I will LINE you, is that ok? Do you want to be picked up? Are you coming back to your condo or your house?" First bombarded the junior with questions while his eyes focusing at the phone screen.

"I think, it's better if I pick Phi up khrab."

"Really?"

"Khrab."

"If it's not troubling you, then it's ok." First said after he took a glance at Toy and got a nod.

"I will go to First' place, so you don't have to pick us up in many places." Toy joined in. "The other two will meet us in the football field."

Win agreed. "I will drive a car with bigger capacity."

First also nodded. Now, they were all silent. Toy smiled while waiting for Win to go home, but Win asked more question instead.

"Phi, does P'Bright have a schedule tomorrow khrab?"

"Oh, he have another appointment. It's family matters, I guess." First replied.

"If it's family matters, then he should go back to his hometown. Is one day enough khrab?"

Toy had to take over the task to answer Win because First suddenly turned his back to Toy, holding back his laugh after listening to Win's question. "You must ask that directly to Bright khrab, Luk. He did not say anything about it."

"Oh, ok khrab."

"Enjoy the quality time with your family na."

"Khrab, Phi. Sawasdee khrab."

Toy and First looked at each other after Win had gone.

"What?" Toy asked because First was suspicious.

"I almost said that he was cute when he was overly worried about P'Bright." First confessed. "But that guy said Nong Win was annoying, Phi."

Toy shrugged. "Don't believe him. Also..." He said. "...don't say something like 'Win is cute' in front of Bright unless he say it himself."

•

The football match on Saturday was intense. It drained the energy of a young man who was still sleeping on the bed now, covered with fluffy white blanket. He used to be stronger than this, but long time no play like yesterday made him weak.

Win's phone rang so loud for seconds until it stopped by itself. Win could hear it but he was dog-tired.

The phone had no heart. It did not care if Win was sleeping. It only knew to ring everytime someone's calling. And here it was again. Ringing non-stop.

Win forced his body to get up. He forgot his sleepiness once he saw a senior's name on the screen.

"Halo. Sawasdee khrab, P'Tay."

"Nong Win, can you come to the office right now?"

"Right now, khrab? Umm... I can, but I just woke up so I need to take a shower first."

"Ok, go to P'Day's office when you've arrived."

"P'Day khrab? Ok, then."

"And enrich your knowledge with checking your social media before coming here." Tay reminded. "Park your car in the highest floor. See you as soon as possible."

Win was puzzled after Tay hung up. Win had no schedule today. Also, what was with the urgency in Tay's voice?

Thinking that he still had time, Win checked his social media before showering just to find out some candid pictures of someone familiar was kissing a woman in public. The pictures successfully opened Win's eyes. The people in the pictures were Bright and his ex girlfriend and one of the online articles said that those pictures were from yesterday.

Win hurriedly entered the shower room as he felt that Tay's call was related to the news. The last time he heard about chaotic related to artists under the company, people inside executive board took the problem over harshly. "Since when P'Bright become a troublemaker?" He wondered. "This is so dangerous."

•

Tay could finally breathe at ease when he saw Win get out from the elevator. The young man was clearly aware of the situation, that was why Tay saw him acting tensed.

"You've read the news already, haven't you?" Tay asked.

Win nodded. He was more confused when seeing some other people around the place. There was not only Tay, but Toy, Krist, Mook, and Singto. "Hmm... Phi, is the situation out of control khrab?" He whispered to Tay. "Why so many people here?"

Tay shrugged. "We are all in this building since morning. We had rehearsal for sports event next week, but suddenly we were being called here. I think we were the only artists in this office today. We just knew about the news after getting here." Tay answered with a whisper, too.

"What are we gonna do khrab?"

"I don't know. Bright is inside wi-"

"P'BRIGHT IS INSIDE KHRAB?" Win suddenly stopped whispering and used his normal volume in the quiet place like where they were now, so it was loud enough to be heard by anyone there.

"Yes, with P'Tha, P'Boo, and P'Day."

"The interrogation session used to be horrible if we are talking about P'Day." Krist said. "I've experienced it."

Singto agreed. "Actually, P'Boo and P'Tha won't say much and P'Day will force you to say the truth, corner you to create a solution and decision on the spot in her own unique way as a general manager in charge of human resource and general affair department. She is impressive!"

Krist shook his head while chuckling, "That's how P'Sing elaborate the term 'horrible' I used to describe her."

Win frowned. "Then, why do I have to be here khrab? It sounds like P'Day will solve it no matter what."

Mook smiled. "You are a pure soul ja, Nong Win. So cute." She admired Win. "But we also have no idea why they asked you to be here."

Meanwhile inside the room...

The person with highest position in the room was Boo. She was a CEO and vice chairman of the GG, GTV's holding company, yet she also had special concern about Human Resources, so she directed Day to manage it under her supervision. Tha was a CEO specifically for GTV.

Bright was sitting across Day so they were face to face, while Boo and Tha on the same side which helped them to watch both and the interview process clearly.

Bright was silent. He knew about the issue. It was also hit him like ton of bricks this morning. He understood how serious this case was when he was picked up by Toy using Day's car that was driven by Day's personal driver. There must be many fans and journalists in various and unpredictable  spot in the parking building and the public area around the office so using Day's car would be beneficial because the car was parked in exclusive lot.

"Don't you have anything to say?" Day started the conversation.

Bright breathed deeply. "I'm really sorry the trouble. I didn't mean it khrab."

"You didn't mean it." Day repeated the last sentence Bright had said. "You didn't mean it, you said? Twice, Khun Bright, twice! You've caused trouble to happen TWICE in a month with the same issue. First, the break up issue, and now what?"

"Get back together issue?"

"That sounds better. But I'm sorry to say, that is not our case right now." Day declined Bright's guess.

"It's the public display of affection issue kha, Khun Bright." Boo added. "But you are also not completely wrong because some of people out there also concern about your relationship status."

Tha cleared his throat, making Bright and others turned their head at him. The middle-aged man smiled. "We are not against your decision to get back together with your-"

"I'm not getting back together with her khrab." Bright quickly corrected the statement which was not finished yet. "It's true that I was with her yesterday, but that's all."

"And kissed." Day added. "In public."

Bright sighed. "I have ever kissed in public several times but no one was bothered about it before."

"Ah. Talking about attitude." Day commented coldly.

Boo gave Bright a smile. The sweetest smile that probably Bright had never thought will be given to him. "Isn't that the reason why everyone has to be more careful when in public space? We don't know who will see us, how people will react. We can't control them. The only thing we can control is ourselves. Kha, P'Tha?"

"Khrab."

Day knock her pen to the table several times. She looked at Bright sharply, her eyes narrowed. "So, you don't get back together but you kissed?"

"Phi." Bright shook his head as he did not know how to convince those people in the room that he was really sorry. "I don't get back together with her but her family is like my family because we had been in a relationship for a long time. She invited me to go to her house to help her explain her parents why we must end the relationship khrab. That's it."

"And...?"

"No, Phi. I won't tell you why I kissed her last night. It's our personal matters khrab." Bright insisted.

Day hissed. For her, Bright was another hard to convince artist in the company. Yet, he kept making issues that hurt her head.

"If he is like this, Nong Day..." Tha said. "...we don't need to make press conference. Let the fans and journalists calm down by themselves. This issues, too, shall pass."

Boo nodded with her signature smile. "Yes, as usual." She conformed. "Ok, we're done. You can go home now kha."

This moment made Bright realize why his fellow artists were scared with the combination of Boo and Day. Tha might be kind to them, but Boo and Day?

Boo smiled all the time but that did not reduce the coldness because her eyes did not smile.

Day showed a cold behavior everytime she was facing difficulties. She wanted to solve any problem as soon as possible. Her tongue were as sharp as the sharpest thing people could imagine. She would cornered anyone until one had no other choice but do or say what she asked or ordered to.

"Just... don't show yourself in front of fans and social media for, at least, a week na kha, Khun Bright. For everyone's sake." Boo said while getting up from her seat. "We will evaluate the situation again later."

"Khrab, Phi. Thank you so much, khrab."

Bright and others followed Boo walking out of the room.

"Also," Boo said again when she was already outside the room and others still behind her in the room. "Please go home with Khun Metawin na kha."

Bright let Boo, Tha, and Day get out and leave first, then he was the last person to appear in front of his fellow artists who were waiting outside.

"He is still alive." Singto was the first person to comment as he saw Bright finally got out of the room. "Kit, I think his condition is better than yours last time."

Tay and Mook laughed at how Singto tease his partner's past experience.

Bright narrowed his eyes as he walking closer to the crowd of his friends. Others were ready to welcome him for coming out the room safely and alive, yet he walked straight to Win without even taking a glance to others.

"Why are you here?"

Win recognized the uncomfortable tones Bright used everytime he disliked or being annoyed by something. The anxious Win changed into nervous Win because he knew Bright was not in a good mood.

"That's what I want to know, too, khrab Phi." Win replied while his eyes wondering around, asking for help to his seniors.

"P'Tha told P'Day to invite him here. P'Day told P'Kwang to call him, but P'Kwang ordered me to do it." Tay calmly explained although Kwang was there all along. "So, don't blame him."

"I do not blame him."

"Don't vent your anger at him."

"I'm not angry, Phi."

"Then, try to speak a little bit nicer to him."

"I've always been like this toward him."

Singto and Krist were confused with the view, and Mook pulled the corner of Toy's t-shirt, giving him a sign to stop the argument before getting worse.

"Umm... Guys-"

"Phi, I can go now if you don't want me to be here na. I'm still sleepy, anyway." Win interrupted Bright and Tay before Toy carried out his mission. "And... P'Tay, I understand P'Bright khrab. It's ok. I'm fine with it." He smiled to Tay. "If you need one more person to play football, please invite me again na, Phi. Yesterday was fun."

The more Win smiling, the more others confused because it was positive that Bright was not in the mood, but he talked to Win like he was angry. No one had a heart to see it. They knew how worried Win was about Bright before.

Bright sighed. He grabbed Win's hand with one of his hands. He slightly bowed down. "I'll go home first khrab, Phi. Sawasdee khrab."

The next second that Win recovered from his shocking state when Bright suddenly grabbed his hand, Win was already pulled by Bright to get into the elevator.

"Where do you park your car?"

The question startled Win.

"Where do you park your car, Ai Win?" Bright repeated with higher pitch.

"Ah. Umm..."

"Hmm?"

"Wait, Phi. I forget." Win's mind suddenly went blank. "Wait, I will call P'Tay. I followed his instruction to park the car."

Bright pushed the button to the highest floor of parking building, leaned his back on the elevator's wall, and watched Win talking to Tay. When Win finished, he was surprised because Bright already pushed the right floor.

"What?" Bright asked Win who was stunned. "Am I right?"

"Right, Phi. How do you know?"

"Of course I know. You actually don't need to call P'Tay." Bright said. "Anyway, Did you hear what P'Boo said?"

Win nodded. "Khrab, Phi. I'll drive you home."

Bright nodded. He wondered why he was not this soft to Win earlier. "Great. Thanks."

•••

So, here is the chapter where I explained about people inside the company who hold power that can turn straight line to the left and right the way they want it ;)

And...Isn't our Tay Tawan so adorable here? <3

Please do vote and leave some comments ;)

Thank you ja~

dedededeva 💋