FORBIDDEN LOVE [PhayuRain]

29: Reunited

The morning sun cast a golden glow across Phayu's room, the warmth pulling him from his sleep. He blinked, letting the light seep into his senses as he stretched out, the weight of the day ahead already pressing on him.

He knew today would be busy, not just with work but also with dealing with the aftermath of his relationship with Rain being plastered on the front page of every news outlet in Thailand, it already started since he was in America.

Phayu got out of bed, quickly showering and dressing in his usual sharp attire. He moved with purpose, grabbing a quick breakfast and sending a text to Rain. "Good morning my love. I'm off to work a lot on my plate today, but I’ll call you later. Take care, love you."

Rain’s response was immediate, almost as if he had been waiting. "Morning babe. Don’t stress too much. I know you’ll handle everything. Love you."

Phayu smiled at the message, the brief exchange enough to brighten his mood before he headed out the door.

When he arrived at his office building, his driver barely managed to stop the car before a horde of journalists and photographers swarmed the vehicle.

Phayu’s eyes widened in mild surprise as he took in the scene. The number of people outside his office was overwhelming clearly, the news of his relationship with Rain had drawn massive attention. It was as if they had camped out overnight, waiting for his return from America.

As he stepped out of the car, the cameras immediately started flashing, and the reporters began shouting over one another, each desperate to get his attention.

"Mr Sermsong! Is it true that you’re dating that boy Rain?"

"When did your relationship start?"

"Are you planning to present him officially?"

The barrage of questions was relentless, and Phayu could feel the irritation bubbling up inside him. He hated being the center of attention, preferring to keep his private life exactly that private.

But he knew there was no avoiding this, not when he was one of the top five young and wealthy entrepreneurs in Thailand, and certainly not after the public found out about his relationship with Rain.

Phayu stopped, holding up his hand to silence the crowd. He kept his expression neutral, though his voice carried an unmistakable firmness.

"Yes, I’m dating Rain," he stated clearly, watching as the journalists’ pens and cameras captured his every word.

"I’ll make an official announcement soon. But for now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do."

Without waiting for a response, Phayu turned and walked through the crowd, the sea of reporters parting just enough to let him pass. The clicks of cameras followed him, but he didn’t turn back. His focus was on getting inside, away from the chaos.

Once inside his office, the noise from outside was muffled, allowing him a moment to collect himself. He walked briskly to his desk and sat down, letting out a deep sigh. He hoped that his brief statement would be enough to satisfy the media, at least for now.

For a moment, he allowed himself to close his eyes and breathe deeply, grounding himself before diving into the mountain of work waiting for him.

The day passed in a blur of meetings and paperwork. Phayu found himself engrossed in back-to-back discussions with clients, reviewing contracts, and ensuring everything was in order for the various projects his company was handling.

His phone buzzed intermittently with messages, some from friends congratulating him on his relationship, the law has changed accepting same sex relationships, people are open minded now, so dating a boy is not as surprising.