Anyone But You [PhayuRain] [Love In The Air]

13: WORDLESSLY

Once they got the official approval to move forward with the project, Rain and his team at the Firm started working on the details. 

It took about a week to reach out to the new owners of both homes and get some dates for the visits to see the properties. They needed to coordinate with Phayu's schedule which wasn't so easy given his vast remit and responsibilities as CEO.

But Phayu's Assistant reassured them that he was trying to clear up a chunk of time so that he could give this project the attention it needed. After all, he was the client - a critical component - it was his wishes that had to be accounted for.

After a week of long email messages between Rain and Win to coordinate schedules, a plan of action, and contracts, Rain requested that he and Phayu meet in-person before the site visits. It was important to brief and align with him on the process and for Rain to set and manage expectations.

He also needed a preliminary understanding of what Phayu was looking for. Many of the aesthetic questions would get answered as they visited the other locations, but he needed to get some of the scope questions answered to do his job most effectively.

*

Rain was expecting Phayu (or more likely his Assistant) to pick a swanky upscale restaurant for lunch, but the location provided led to a very 'regular', unpretentious Korean restaurant. Something he would happily walk into any time.

Phayu was already there and stood up when Rain walked over. Rain was a bit surprised by the courtesy, but he shouldn't have been. Phayu was always well-mannered.

They took their seats.

This was the first time that it was just the two of them.

Without the presence of others.

Without the liquid courage of alcohol.

As two adults.

Two adults with life experiences that the other hadn't been a part of.

Their eyes met like hot oil kissing water.

Thank god. It was still there. Phayu let out a breath of relief. The tension that had been thrumming through his body since that night in the bar bathroom left him.

What the hell was that!? Rain's heart tensed. He had not expected that. He had thought it was gone since he hadn't felt that when they saw each other the last two times. Shit. The other night when he and Phayu had their encounter, it felt like more of a memory of their lusty past than something that was in the present.

Now, it was hard to ignore that the electricity that had always sparked between them was still there. Undiminished. Potent. Despite the passage of time and disappointments.

Rain sat back in his chair and gathered his composure.

"I hope you weren't waiting too long?" He asked politely, like he would have for any other business acquaintance. Smoothly ignoring the fact that he was trying to move the moment away from that visceral reaction.

"No, not at all." Phayu dismissed his concern and smiled shyly at him. 

And for the second time in just moments, Rain was caught off guard.  He had always known Phayu to be in command of every situation. The shyness was surprising. 

"I'm surprised that you picked this place. It wasn't what I was expecting. Have you been here before?"

"No, I've never been here. I remembered how much you liked Korean food and since you lived there for a while, I thought you might enjoy this place."