A shoulder to lean on ( Joongdunk)

part 10

"P' Earth ,can I leave before the dinner party?" Dunk asked his brother, seeking approval, still adjusting to this type of high-society event.

"Of course, you can. But are you okay, Dunk? Is something bothering you?" Earth asked in a worried tone, noticing the change in Dunk's demeanor.

"I'm okay... but I feel suffocated among all these luxurious people and business executives with their boring conversations." Dunk tried to reassure his brother. Earth chuckled and patted Dunk's shoulder. "Try to get used to it. I'll call Sam to drive you home. Go safely, and don’t skip dinner." Earth said. "Thanks, P' Earth," Dunk responded, feeling like a child who just received his favorite candy.

"Joong, Mr. and Mrs. Aiden are here. You should at least greet them, or it will affect your image," Tan said to Joong, bracing for Joong's outburst. Tan knew how much Joong hated meeting his family, especially his dad and stepmother. She had made Joong's childhood a nightmare, a demon disguised as an angel, who treated Joong well in public but tormented him in private. Her manipulation had turned Joong's family against him and was the main reason for his estrangement.

"Okay, let’s go," Joong replied, astonishing Tan. For the first time, Joong didn’t make a fuss about meeting his family. "Stay close. I'll greet them quickly and then leave for the after-party. Make sure of that," Joong instructed sternly before walking away.

"P' Sam, can I ask you something?" Dunk asked Earth's second secretary as they drove home. "Yes, khun' Dunk. Go ahead," Sam replied.

"Is Joong Archen really that famous?" Dunk asked. Sam glanced at him and said, "Yes, khun' Dunk. He’s one of the top Formula racers in the world, known for making it to the top five at just 18. He is one of the biggest car dealers in Thailand too" Hearing this, Dunk blurted out, "Talented and handsome."

Seeing Sam's amused reaction, Dunk quickly added, "He was at the party. All the media and business executives were treating him like the star of the event. That’s why I asked."

Dunk left the party not because he felt suffocated, but because he needed to escape Joong's mesmerizing eyes. Those eyes were too beautiful, making Dunk feel vulnerable, as if Joong could see right through his defenses. Joong’s presence was overwhelming, and even in the air-conditioned venue, Dunk found himself sweating profusely.

"P', Mix, what's with the long face? You’ve been sighing non-stop since you got here. Is everything alright?" Nut asked. Nut, Mix's cousin and a talented photographer, had shared a close bond with him since childhood.

"I'm sighing because I'm an idiot. How could I end up like that last night?" Mix silently berated himself, feeling mortified by his drunken encounter with Earth at the bar. The memory of the incident kept replaying in his mind, and he can’t shake it off even after leaving home to hang out with Nut. He really felt like a fool.

"It's nothing, just work stress... That's why I called you to join me for some barbecue," Mix said, placing chicken pieces on the grill. "What is wrong with me today? Why can't I stop thinking about that man?" he cursed himself again, the thoughts relentless.

"Hello, Mr. Boom. What brings you here?" Earth greeted Boom warmly as soon as he saw him at the dinner party.

"Actually, I'm here accompanying our executive director since his secretary is on leave," Boom replied, shaking Earth’s hand.

As Earth conversed with Boom, his mind was preoccupied, itching to ask about someone in particular. Yet, the fear of revealing too much kept him silent.

He could still hear the words from the previous night: "You have a sharp nose, your lips are nice." Unconsciously, he touched his lips. It might have been a drunken compliment, but it lingered with him.

He knows that man hated him ever since their first office encounter and would never say such things in a sober state. Yet, those words kept replaying in Earth's mind, sending butterflies fluttering in his stomach. It was just a normal act of helping a drunken man, but something about it felt different. Maybe it was normal, but Earth's mind refused to see it that way.