Chapter Text
Ongsa Theethuch Khummuang is standing in the grand foyer of the Atsavatanachai residence, his worn duffel bag at his feet, and his hands clasped politely in front of him. He feels small here somehow, and out of place, really aware of the fact that he is standing in the home of one of the city’s richest men.
Inn Jakkrasin Atsavatanachai is standing before him, adjusting the cuffs of his suit jacket, carrying an air of effortless elegance. He is a full head taller than Ongsa, with smooth, clean skin that catches your attention, a charming smile that comes easily to his lips, and a presence that feels both commanding and kind. He smells incredible too, a scent that’s mildly soapy rich and woodsy, with a subtle hint of sweetness. Ongsa catches himself inhaling just a little too deeply, trying to recognize the scent.
Focus, he tells himself. He's your uncle's friend. He's doing you a favor. Stop staring.
But it's hard not to stare. The man is devastatingly handsome.
"Thank you for letting me stay over, Uncle," Ongsa says steadily and politely, despite the flutter in his chest.
Inn waves a dismissive hand, his smile widening. "No problem at all. Your uncle Peak and I were good friends in school. Still are. I'm happy to help."
Ongsa nods, relieved by the warmth in Inn's tone. He had been nervous about staying with a stranger, even if that stranger was a close friend of his Uncle Peak. But Inn seems genuinely kind, and Ongsa lets himself relax a little.
Inn glances at his wristwatch, a sleek silver piece that probably costs a fortune, Ongsa presumes. "I have an early meeting," he says, his tone apologetic but brisk. "I need to head out for a breakfast appointment. My housekeeper, Khun Mali, will help you get settled in. She'll show you to your room and make sure you have everything you need. Just let her know."
"Of course," Ongsa says. "Thank you."
Inn pauses, his gaze softening as he looks at Ongsa. "I'll call later to check in and see how you're settling. Get comfortable around here. Roam, eat whatever you want, use the TV and the Wi-Fi. My home is your home for the weekend."
Ongsa's eyes light up at the mention of Wi-Fi. College kid, Inn thinks, and he has to suppress a small laugh. It's endearing.
"Thanks again, Uncle," Ongsa smiles. "For everything."
Inn nods, offers one last charming smile, and then he's gone, striding out the front door toward his waiting car. Ongsa watches him go, his eyes following the lean, elegant contour of his back until the door closes behind him.
He lets out a breath that he’s apparently been holding.
^^^
The night before, Inn had been sitting in his study, doing some work, when he got the call from Peak; first time he heard from him in months. They were old friends, the kind who could go months without talking and pick up right where they left off, but the call was still unexpected.
"Peak," Inn had answered, leaning back in his chair. "This is a surprise. How are you doing?"
"Yeah, everything's fine. You?"
“I’m good, bro.”
Peak had said then, while sounding rushed and apologetic. "Listen, I have a favor to ask. My nephew is moving campuses and needs a place to stay for the weekend while we sort out his accommodation. Would it be possible for him to crash at your place?"
Inn had frowned, surprised. "Your nephew?"
"His name is Theethuch. We call him Ongsa. He’s been studying at a university in the city, third year now. I'm just waiting on the dormitory paperwork to clear, but he needs somewhere to stay until Monday. The relative with whom he stays in the city during times like this, is out of town."
It didn't sound like anything too difficult for Inn. This nephew was an adult and he’d only stay two days. "Sure. I have plenty of room. What's he like? Any special needs I should know about?"
"Ongsa?" Peak had laughed. "Mature for a twenty-one year old. He's the most unproblematic kid ever. Smart, well-mannered, keeps to himself. You won't even know he's there. I promise you."
Inn had agreed easily, trusting Peak's judgment. And now, looking back on the brief interaction he'd just had with Ongsa earlier, he can see that Peak was right.
Inn is thinking about it on his way to work. Ongsa seemed decent; polite, friendly, cleanly dressed in a simple dress shirt and jeans that fit him well.
And very, very pretty.
Inn wasn't unaware of that fact in that moment. Ongsa has a very pretty face, with soft features and bright, expressive eyes that seem to take in everything around him with wonder. Good looks must run in the family, because Peak is pretty too, though in a different way. Ongsa's beauty is more delicate, more innocent but also sly in a way.
Inn shakes his head, forcing his thoughts back to the present. He pulls out his phone, scrolling through emails as the driver navigates the morning traffic. He has a business to run.
^^^
Inside the house, Ongsa stands in the foyer for a moment, taking in the sheer scale of the place. The ceilings are high, the windows enormous, and there’s just so much to marvel at. The tasteful artwork on the walls, the grand staircase leading up to the second floor, the ridiculously polished marble floors, the view of the magnificent yard outside….
Khun Mali is a middle-aged woman with a gentle smile, but who looks strict in a way. "Khun Ongsa, Let me show you to your room." She tells him.
"Thank you, Khun," Ongsa says, following her up the stairs. She helps Ongsa carry his luggage.
The guest room is larger than Ongsa's entire apartment at school. It has a queen-sized bed with white linens, a desk by the window overlooking the garden, and an en-suite bathroom with a marble countertop and a rainfall shower. Ongsa stares at it all, overwhelmed.
"This is... so freaking cool," he murmurs.
Khun Mali smiles. "If you need anything, just press the intercom by the bed. Lunch is served at noon. Make yourself at home, Khun Ongsa."
After Khun Mali leaves, Ongsa unpacks a few of his things, hanging his shirts in the spacious closet and placing his toiletries in the bathroom. He takes a nap, exhaustion from the long journey from home catching up with him.
When he wakes up, he's called downstairs to the dining room to eat. There’s some expensive-looking heavy silverware at a long dining table and a single place setting at one end. Ongsa eats alone, feeling slightly awkward but also strangely pampered. The food is delicious.
After lunch, he explores the hallways, looking at the décor and the books and the classic music records neatly arranged on a shelf. He traces his fingers over the books, then pauses at a record player, running his hand over the smooth wood. Suddenly he remembers he forgot to call Uncle Peak.
He pulls out his phone and dials, and Peak picks up on the second ring. "Ongsa! Did you arrive safely?"
"Yes, Uncle. I'm at Khun Inn's house now. It's... amazing. His place is like a dream come true, Uncle. I didn’t think I’d ever be in a house like this."
Peak laughs. "I'm glad. Inn's a good guy. You'll be fine there. Just be goo and….don't break anything. I told him he could trust you."
"I'll try my best," Ongsa promises, laughing.
They talk for a few minutes, catching up a bit then after that call; Ongsa texts his friends from school, letting them know he's in the city and will see them on Monday.
Around four o'clock, his phone rings again. It's Inn.
"Ongsa," Inn says, sounding formal. "Your uncle gave me your number. Have you had dinner?"
"Not yet," Ongsa admits.
"I'll have my driver pick you up and we can eat out. That okay with you?"
Ongsa grins, unable to help himself. "Great."
He hangs up and practically jumps off the bed, heading straight for the shower. He doesn't know why, but he feels like he needs to clean up a bit. Maybe it's the way Inn looked this morning, so put-together and sophisticated. Ongsa doesn't want to show up looking like a frumpy college student.
He takes a quick shower and changes into a simple button-down and back jeans. He looks in the mirror, adjusts his hair a bit and decides that he looks good now.
About forty-five minutes later, a diver in a very nice black car comes to get Ongsa and drives him through the city, until they pull up in front of a restaurant.
The restaurant is breathtaking. A grand entrance with golden doors and a marble staircase leading up to the main dining area. Chandeliers overheard, velvet seating, air that smells of expensive perfume and freshly cut flowers, and soft classical music plays in the background. Everything about the place screams serious luxury.
Ongsa has never seen anything like it. He keeps looking around as he's led inside, his eyes wide and his heart racing with excitement. He gets a little dizzy from the sheer lavishness of it all.
He's led to a table by the window, where he finds Inn already seated. Inn has changed out of his morning suit and is now wearing black trousers, a maroon blazer over a white shirt, no tie, the collar open. His hair is styled to perfection. He looks devastatingly gorgeous. Ongsa notes how great Inn looks.
Inn sees Ongsa approaching and stands, his face breaking into a smile. Ongsa feels underdressed, even though he changed into his best outfit. He feels like a boy standing next to a man. He approaches the table, and the first words out of his mouth are, "This place is so... rich."
Inn chuckles and the sound makes Ongsa's stomach flutter. "I'll take that as a compliment." He gestures to the chair opposite him. "Please, sit."
Ongsa sits, and Inn follows suit. Ongsa is still looking around, craning his neck to take in the grand place and people seated at the other tables. He's so absorbed in the atmosphere that he almost misses it when their menus arrive.
Inn asks, "Were you comfortable on your drive here?"
Ongsa's gaze snaps back to Inn, and he smiles. "Yes, very. Your car is nice."
Inn smiles and invites him to consult the menu. Ongsa picks it up and scans it, and his eyes immediately widening. He isn't even surprised by how high the prices are, but the dishes themselves are incomprehensible. Foie gras, truffle-infused something, a single scallop served on a bed of something he can't pronounce. He can barely understand what anything is.
"Choose anything you want," Inn says
"Okay," Ongsa replies, and resumes consulting the menu, though he's mostly just staring at it.
Inn finishes scanning his own menu and asks, "Ready to order?"
Ongsa blinks at him, a little panicked. "You go ahead, Uncle. I'm still deciding."
Inn easily reads the situation, seeing the way Ongsa's eyes keep darting about the menu. He sets his menu down and says, "They use jargon to trick you into thinking you're eating something luxurious. It's a business thing. Do you have any food allergies?"
Ongsa shakes his head.
"Do you drink?"
"Yes," Ongsa replies.
"Then allow me to order for both of us."
Inn orders a selection of exotic dishes, including seared duck breast with fig reduction, a delicate lobster bisque with saffron, and a Wagyu steak. He adds a bottle of expensive red wine, a vintage from France, and hands the menus back to the waiter with a nod.
When the waiter leaves, Inn looks at Ongsa and asks, "How was your day at home?"
Ongsa's face brightens. "Your house is a-mazing. If I lived there, I'd never leave."
"At last, one has to leave the house to maintain the wealth that sustains the house."
"Oh," Ongsa whispers, looking slightly disappointed by that bit of adult logic.
"Nothing comes for free," Inn says gently.
Ongsa nods, then asks, "What do you do for work, Uncle?"
Inn takes a sip of his water. Ongsa watches, fascinated by how sophisticated the man looks just drinking water. His posture is impeccable, his body language calm and confident. And damn, he's so fine.
"I own a cosmetics brand," Inn enlightens.
"Uncle Peak told me you're a CEO."
Inn nods. "Of my business, yes."
Ongsa nods, processing this. "What sort of cosmetics?"
"I started with perfume and men's skincare, and now it's a wide variety of products. Hair care, makeup, luxury linens, and peaceful sleep products."
"Do you have an online store?"
"We do."
"Then I'll go window shopping there tonight," Ongsa says, a playful glint in his eye. "I'm interested in skincare."
Inn smiles, charmed. He asks Ongsa about his studies, why he picked it, whether he's enjoying it so far. He asks about Ongsa's plans for the future, what sort of work he's looking for, whether he's found an internship yet. He asks why Ongsa is moving campuses. Ongsa answers every question, and the conversation flows easily between them.
The food arrives, and Ongsa marvels at it. The presentation alone is great with delicate sauces drizzled in patterns, microgreens arranged nicely, the plating so beautiful it feels almost like a waste to eat. He asks Inn, "Do you dine like this all the time?"
"No. I just wanted to do something nice for my good friend's nephew."
"So you cook at home?"
"Sometimes."
"I hate cooking," Ongsa admits. "If I had money, I'd never eat at home."
Inn is visibly amused by that, "Everything gets tiresome when it's overdone."
They talk about their favorite foods, going back and forth. As it turns out, they both favor steak dishes. They also both dislike apples and bananas. It's a small thing, but it makes Ongsa feel a connection, some common ground.
For dessert, Inn orders chocolate soufflé with gold leaf and a raspberry coulis. Inn watches Ongsa eat, curious to see if he'll like it.
Ongsa takes a bite, and his eyes widen. He chews slowly, wanting to savor it. "It's different," he says finally. "Good though."
Inn smiles, pleased. "I'm glad you like it."
They finish their meal, and Ongsa feels full and a little bit dizzy from the wine. As they leave the restaurant, Inn places a hand on Ongsa's lower back, guiding him gently toward the door. The touch is light and casual, but it sends a shiver up Ongsa's spine.
He wonders if Inn feels it too.
On the drive back to the house, Ongsa stares out the window at the city lights, his mind replaying the evening. Tomorrow, he probably won't be able to believe that he truly experienced any of this. It all feels so dreamlike, staying at a gorgeous house, eating at a beautiful restaurant and experiencing all that with an unbelievably attractive man that also so happens to be is uncle’s friend.
Damn.