Secret Admirer

20. Shirt

Ciro glanced over at Kayu in the passenger seat, noticing his secretary's silence. They had been driving for a while, and though Kayu usually filled the time with idle chatter or questions about work, today he was unusually quiet, staring out the window with his hand supporting his chin.

"Why so quiet?" Ciro asked, his voice breaking through the soft hum of the car.

Kayu glanced over, blinking as if pulled from his thoughts. He smiled politely, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Ah, nothing. Just... thinking about some things," he said with a quick shrug.

Ciro didn't press, and Kayu was grateful. Because, in truth, his mind was buzzing with more than he could possibly explain. 

The past few weeks had been overwhelming; Ciro's newfound attentiveness, the flowers, and the special lunches—each had caught him off-guard. Ciro's sudden interest, while flattering, was unsettling.

On top of that, he had yet to find a replacement for his role as Ciro's secretary. He'd interviewed candidates, sifted through countless resumes, but no one felt quite right. One candidate had the credentials but froze during the interview, while the other was charming and social but lacked experience. And all the others...well, "disappointing" was putting it mildly.

His thoughts were interrupted as the car rolled to a stop. They were in front of a modest house in a quiet residential neighborhood. 

Kayu frowned as he looked around, trying to remember if Ciro had mentioned a client who lived nearby.

"This doesn't look like the place for an official meeting," Kayu muttered under his breath, stepping out of the car.

Ciro chuckled at Kayu's puzzled expression, watching him glance around with uncertainty. "That's because it's not an official meeting," Ciro said, flashing a grin. "We are here to celebrate my best friend's anniversary. I thought it would be good to take you with me."

Kayu's brows furrowed, a mixture of surprise and curiosity crossing his face. In the years he had worked for Ciro, he had never known him to have close friends outside of work, let alone a best friend. Ciro had always come across as guarded, someone who only seemed to let people in on his terms.

Ciro gestured for him to follow, leading the way up the walkway to the front door. When Ciro rang the bell, it opened quickly to reveal a man with a wide smile. He greeted Ciro warmly, accepting a bottle of wine with a surprised laugh.

"Wow, nice choice, Ciro! Thanks, man," he said, giving Ciro a quick pat on the shoulder. He invited them both inside, gesturing toward the cozy living room where the scent of something delicious wafted in from the kitchen.

The house felt warm and lived-in, with family photos on the walls and little trinkets placed lovingly on shelves. 

Kayu felt a slight pang of envy. It was so different from the clean lines and modern coldness of the apartment he lived in.

A woman's voice called from the kitchen, and a moment later, a woman with a bright smile peeked out, waving to them. "Ciro!" she called, her smile widening as she walked over to greet him with a friendly hug. "You finally made it! And you brought Kayu with you!"

Ciro stepped back and turned to Kayu. "Kayu, this is Yen, my best friend since high school," he said, his eyes glinting with pride. Yen's name rang a faint bell in Kayu's mind, but he couldn't place it. It gave him a sense of deja vu for some reason.

Kayu bowed politely, pressing his hands together in a wai. "Happy anniversary, Khrab" he said warmly, a hint of formality in his tone.

Yen chuckled softly. "Oh, please, no need for the formality. I have heard so much about you from Ciro; it's great to finally meet you," she said, giving him a playful wink that made Kayu feel unexpectedly flustered.

Ciro then turned to the man who'd answered the door. "And this is Mork, Yen's boyfriend."

Kayu greeted Mork with a wai as well, which Mork returned with a friendly nod. Just then, footsteps sounded on the stairs, and a tall figure appeared, descending with a confident swagger. Ciro turned and grinned. "And this is Buri, another best friend from high school."

Kayu felt his stomach drop. He didn't need an introduction to this man; he recognized him immediately. Buri had come up often in his conversations with June, and he had even seen him in several pictures with June. 

Buri wore a broad, friendly smile as he approached, but Kayu's eyes locked onto the shirt he was wearing—a baby blue button-up with a white floral pattern.

Kayu's heart clenched painfully. It was the very same shirt he had gifted to June when they first started dating, carefully chosen because he thought June would look amazing in it, despite June's mild disinterest in the color. 

June had promised him he would cherish it, and hearing those words had made Kayu's heart feel light. 

Now, though, seeing Buri wearing it, the painful truth became clear.

Forcing his expression to stay neutral, Kayu felt a storm of emotions he could barely keep in check. Buri's smile, so open and cheerful, only made things worse. As he stepped forward, wai- ing in greeting, Kayu could feel the trembling in his fingers. He knew if he stayed much longer, he wouldn't be able to hide his reaction.

Slipping his hand into his pocket, he pressed the button on his phone that activated a fake ringtone. He let it ring once before pulling it out, holding it to his ear. "Excuse me, I need to take this," he murmured, bowing slightly before stepping away toward the entrance.

He walked out to the front of the house, breathing in the cool evening air, his heart pounding and his stomach churning with a mix of emotions. 

When he returned inside a few minutes later, he had collected himself, though the pain still lingered behind his polite smile. Walking up to Ciro, he spoke in a low voice, not wanting to draw any more attention to himself.

"Khun Ciro, I just got a call about a family emergency. I need to leave," he said, keeping his tone steady, though every part of him was itching to bolt out the door.

Ciro's brows knit together in concern. "You want to leave? Let me give you a ride."

Kayu shook his head, forcing a reassuring smile. "It's all right; I have already booked a cab," he replied quickly. "But thank you for the offer."

Ciro looked at him, an expression of reluctance in his eyes, but he nodded. "All right. Let me know if you need anything," he said, his voice gentle.

Kayu nodded, giving a quick farewell to Yen and Mork, who wished him well, and to Buri, who gave him a casual wave, blissfully unaware of the turmoil his presence had stirred. 

As Kayu stepped out of the house and hurried toward his cab, he felt an unexpected surge of relief. The warmth of that home had been inviting, yes, but the familiarity of his loneliness was more comfortable, less complicated.

In the cab, he leaned back, resting his head against the seat, replaying the evening over in his mind.