Accidentally Married

30. Tux

Sailom tapped his fingers against his knee as he sat in the plush chair, the soft hum of the boutique's air conditioning the only sound in the otherwise quiet room.

 His hair and costume were already done, the stylist had done a great job, smoothing his thick, dark hair back into a sleek, refined style that perfectly framed his chiseled jawline and dusky skin. 

The wine-red tuxedo he wore, tailored to perfection, hugged his broad shoulders and tapered down to his waist, emphasizing his athletic frame. He glanced down at his reflection in the full-length mirror, silently approving of the final look.

But his thoughts kept drifting, pulling him away from the mirror and toward Aum, who was still inside the dressing room. He couldn't help but feel a wave of curiosity, mixed with a bit of impatience, waiting for Aum to finish. 

He had no idea why Aum had been so insistent about not hiring Jui, who was one of the best stylists in the country, for this event. Sailom knew Jui's busy schedule wouldn't have been an issue, not for them. 

But Aum had been adamant, and in the end, Sailom had relented, even if it left him confused.

The event they were preparing for was none other than Cherd's wedding, a major social event that both of their families would be attending. 

Sailom wasn't thrilled to go, but with Saifah wouldn't be attending due to some personal reasons and Sailub sent away as punishment, it had fallen to him to represent the family alongside their parents. 

On a whim, Sailom had asked Aum to be his plus one. It was more of a half-hearted suggestion, something he didn't expect Aum to agree to. But, to his surprise, Aum had said yes, and now here they were.

The door to the dressing room opened, and Sailom's thoughts scattered. He looked up, ready to tease Aum about taking his time, but the words caught in his throat. Aum stepped out into the soft lighting of the boutique, and Sailom felt his breath hitch.

Aum was breathtaking.

He wore a matching wine-red tuxedo, though the way it fit him made it seem as though the fabric was molded to his form. 

The jacket was slim and structured, accentuating Aum's lean, elegant figure. His pale skin stood in stark contrast to the rich, deep color of the suit, and his soft, smooth features seemed almost ethereal in the glow of the room. 

His thick black hair, styled in a casual yet effortlessly perfect bro flow, fell slightly over his forehead, giving him a carefree yet refined air. 

But it was his lips that truly caught Sailom's attention—plump, smooth, and a shade of red that matched the tuxedo, almost as though they had been deliberately painted to complete the look.

Sailom couldn't take his eyes off him. There was something magnetic about Aum's presence, the way he carried himself, both elegant and confident. He had always known Aum was attractive, but seeing him like this, dressed up and polished, stirred something deeper in Sailom.

Aum, for his part, could feel Sailom's gaze lingering. He glanced over, catching the look in Sailom's eyes. It wasn't just admiration. There was something else there too, something Aum had seen countless times in the eyes of strangers at clubs—desire, longing. But this time, it wasn't coming from a faceless stranger. It was Sailom.

Aum chose to ignore the intensity of Sailom's gaze, brushing it off with the ease of someone who had long grown accustomed to being admired. He gave a small nod toward the door. "Ready?"

Sailom blinked, snapping out of his trance. He quickly stood up, smoothing down the front of his tuxedo. "Yeah, let's go."

The two of them exited the boutique, Sailom leading the way toward his car. 

The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden hue over the city streets, but all Sailom could think about was how Aum's presence beside him seemed to shift the very air around them. 

He couldn't shake the feeling that, for once, he wasn't just going to this wedding as Sailom. He was going with Aum, and that meant something different. Something more.

As they reached the car, Sailom couldn't help but feel a slight nervousness gnawing at him. His parents would be at the wedding. So would Zo's parents. He knew that at some point, questions would be asked. Questions about Aum. Questions that he wasn't sure he was ready to answer.

He glanced sideways at Aum, wondering how the man would react if introduced as a "potential son-in-law." Would he laugh it off? Would he be uncomfortable? 

Sailom didn't know, and that uncertainty gnawed at him. The thought made him fidget as he started the car, driving them toward the venue.

The car ride was quiet, the air between them filled with an unspoken tension that Sailom didn't know how to break. He was about to say something when Aum's voice cut through the silence.

"You are thinking too hard, Phi."

Sailom glanced over, surprised. Aum had a small smirk playing on his lips, as if he could read Sailom's thoughts. "Relax. It's just a wedding."

Sailom let out a small chuckle, trying to mask the unease he felt. "Yeah, just a wedding."

But the truth was, it wasn't just a wedding, not for him. Cherd's wedding was a gathering of some of the most important families in their circle, a place where reputations were built, and gossip flowed like wine. And with his parents there, Sailom knew that every move he made would be scrutinized, especially if he was with Aum.

He was grateful, though, for one thing: Zo had told him that Nai would be attending the wedding too. That small bit of reassurance helped ease the tight knot in Sailom's chest. At least with Nai around, there would be some friendly faces.

The venue for the wedding was grand, a sprawling estate with towering gates and lush gardens. Sailom parked the car, and as they stepped out, he could already hear the hum of chatter and music drifting through the air.

Aum adjusted the collar of his tuxedo as they made their way inside, drawing the attention of more than a few onlookers. 

Sailom could feel the stares too, the murmurs as they passed by. It wasn't surprising. Together, in their matching wine-red tuxedos, they looked every bit the striking couple.

Sailom's parents were already seated when they entered the reception area. 

Sainam's eyes widened when she saw them, and she wasted no time in making her way over. "Sailom, darling," she said, her voice dripping with curiosity as she gave Aum a once-over. "And who is this?"

Sailom tensed, but before he could respond, Aum stepped in smoothly, offering a polite smile and waied. "Swadee Khrab. I am Aum, P' Sailom's... friend."

Sainam raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying the simple explanation, but she didn't press. Not yet, anyway.

As the night wore on, Sailom and Aum moved through the reception, exchanging pleasantries with various guests. But no matter where they went, Sailom could feel the weight of the questions hanging over them, the curious gazes that followed them everywhere.

He glanced at Aum, wondering if the man felt it too, but Aum remained composed, his expression unreadable as ever. It was only when they finally found a quiet corner, away from the crowd, that Sailom let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding.

"Thanks for coming with me," Sailom said quietly, his voice low.

Aum shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "It's just a wedding."