PitBabe Cast: Imagines

SailubPon: My Roman Empire

Pon, heir to the Aiemkumchai empire – a conglomerate spanning real estate, technology, and a surprisingly successful line of AI virtual assistants across the globe– was not a man known for his patience. He was, however, known for his extravagant parties, his even more extravagant cars, and his complete and utter disdain for arranged marriages. His grandmother, however, possessed a stubbornness rivaling the Himalayas' height. Thus, Pon found himself facing a forced betrothal to the equally privileged, equally vapid, and utterly unappealing Chayada, the daughter of their company partner—a union designed to solidify a lucrative business alliance.

"It's for the good of the company, Pon," his grandmother, a woman who could make steel bend with a glare, had declared. "Besides, Chay is a lovely girl." Lovely, in Pon's opinion, was a word better suited to describing a perfectly sculpted bonsai tree.

Determined to avoid this matrimonial catastrophe, Pon hatched a plan. He'd declare himself gay. Bold, yes, but far less messy than a drawn-out, ultimately doomed rebellion. The only problem? He needed a convincingly convincing boyfriend, someone who wasn't known to the wealthiest of families yet someone who stood out and worthy of his dashing looks.

That's where Sailub entered the picture.

He wasn't exactly a "mechanic on the streets". Sailub was a freelance automotive engineer, technically gifted beyond his years, with grease perpetually under his fingernails and a smirk that could melt glaciers. He'd been working on Pon's vintage Lancia Stratos when the idea struck. Sailub, with his rugged handsomeness, and almost aggressively average clothes, was the perfect foil to Pon's polished, albeit exasperated, demeanor and extraordinary beauty.

Their fake courtship began with a staged encounter at a trendy café. Pon, all tailored linen and expensive cologne, dramatically bumped into Sailub, scattering his toolbox and spilling his lukewarm coffee. The ensuing exchange, a carefully choreographed performance of awkward charm and mumbled apologies, was a masterpiece of theatrical improvisation.

Following that moment, they decided to exchange phone numbers, marking the start of their unusual arrangement. They entered into a playful contract that outlined their roles as a fake couple, complete with the pretense of a marriage. This arrangement was set in place to keep Pon's grandmother entertained and distracted until she eventually lost interest in her grandson's relationship status. The couple navigated the complexities of their act, juggling the demands of their families and the expectations that came with their charade.

Pon introduced Sailub as his fiancé, a "talented mechanic" with a "heart of gold".

The initial reactions were a mixture of stunned silence and pitying glances. Sailub, who was actually accustomed to a life of quiet luxury thanks to his late father's considerable wealth (a fact Pon was blissfully unaware of), played the blushing, humble mechanic to perfection – his acting a mixture of genuine amusement and quiet observation.

The whispers started immediately. "He's so dowdy for Pon," one society matron hissed. Another added, "Poor boy, probably just clinging on for a handout." Sailub bore their disdain with a stoic grace that only increased their suspicion of his impoverished status. He was relentlessly bullied – subtly at first, with pointed comments about his clothes and his supposed lack of sophistication but it escalated. He became the butt of cruel jokes at lavish parties, his presence tolerated only because of his connection to the Aiemkumchai heir.

Meanwhile, Pon reveled in the chaos. His grandmother, initially horrified by the news of his "non-traditional" relationship, was gradually charmed by Sailub's quiet demeanor and the genuine affection (at least, the meticulously crafted illusion of it) he displayed towards Pon. His plan was working, far better than he'd anticipated.