PitBabe Cast: Imagines

SailubPon: Complicated Love

It's funny how senseless life can feel as we grow older, and love—love changes too. My love story isn't some grand romance like Cinderella's or as tragic as Romeo and Juliet's. No, mine is a lesson wrapped in naivety, a cautionary tale of mistaking devotion for love and mistaking desire for something deeper.

I used to believe love meant standing by someone no matter what, giving them everything, and making sure they were happy, even at the cost of my own. That belief is exactly why I ended up in a complicated entanglement with my boss, a man who took my love for granted.

I met Sailub in college. He was my senior, well-known, wealthy, and undeniably handsome—but he had a temper. He wasn't a bully, but there was something about him that made people keep their distance. I was no different. I never dared to approach him until one day, when a persistent senior cornered me, pressing for a one-night stand. Just when I thought I'd have to find my own way out, Sailub appeared.

"Stop harassing him," he had said, his voice cold and commanding. "He's my boyfriend."

I had been too stunned to argue, too desperate to escape the situation to question his claim. From that moment on, I found myself orbiting his world. I became his shadow, his assistant, his ever-reliable companion. Somewhere along the way, I fell for him. He was kind to me, in his own way—a gentleman when he wanted to be. He made me feel special, important. I mistook that for love.

But Sailub was a man of contradictions. When I finally found the courage to confess, he had been brutally honest.

"I like you," he had said. "But I don't know if it's in a romantic way."

He admitted he wanted me physically. He admitted he thought about it often. But love? That was something he didn't believe in.

"Sorry," he had said simply, pouring another glass of liquor as if that made it better. "Love isn't for me."

Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was my desperation to be wanted by him in any way possible, but that night, I gave him everything. My first kiss. My first night. My first heartbreak. I told myself it didn't matter. That I enjoyed it. That it was enough. And so, our secret arrangement continued.

Was it even a relationship? I wasn't sure. We were fuck buddies, nothing more. But who cared? I convinced myself I didn't.

"Ai'Pon! Stop daydreaming! Check the report again. Something's definitely wrong with the supplies. We might need to visit the warehouse."

Sailub's voice cut through my thoughts, and I quickly snapped back to reality. He was standing by his desk, flipping through documents, his brow furrowed in frustration.

I sighed. I hated going to the warehouse. Not because of the chaos or the smell, but because it always meant long hours of extra work. And after the week I had, all I wanted was to go home and sleep.

"Phi, there's definitely an issue with the supplies," I admitted, reluctantly.

"Then let's go check it out," he said without hesitation, grabbing his coat.

I followed, knowing I had no choice.

📦

The warehouse was buzzing with movement when we arrived, but the manager quickly approached us, his face filled with guilt.

"Khun Sailub, I'm really sorry. The supplies were delayed because we're short-staffed today," he explained. "It's my fault for overlooking it. You can take it out of my salary."

Sailub sighed but didn't berate him. Instead, he simply rolled up his sleeves and started helping. Without a word, I followed his lead, packing boxes and moving shipments alongside the workers.