Page 76 of Baby Love
“How’s Bass?” Pravat asks. “I haven’t heard from him in a while.”
“He’s dating my sister. I’m trying to be a grown-up about it.”
Rama and Pravat chuckle, and Rama asks, “What about Kiet? How’s he doing?”
I think Rama’s always felt bad about his sister, Chinda, breaking up with Kiet, although he had nothing to do with it.
“He’s good. Finding his way professionally. So is Bass, but he’s had some setbacks. When I talked to him yesterday, he said his chance to act in a lakorn fell through due to funding issues.” I was so bummed for Bass when he told me. He tried to cover it up, but I know how disappointed he was.
“That’s rough,” ‘Rama says. “Has he considered starting with bl’s? You know a lot of actors launch mainstream careers that way.”
“I’m not sure if he’d consider doing that.”
“An actor recently dropped out of our upcoming series,” Pravat says. “He should go to the audition Monday.” He pulls out his wallet and withdraws a card, handing it to me. “Tell him to call this number if he’s interested.”
“Thanks. I’ll let him know.”
I feel a presence behind me.
“P’Park!” I say, smiling and grasping his arm. I introduce him to Rama and Pravat, and they greet one another with a wai.
“By the way,” Rama says, pulling his phone out of his pocket. “I saw there’s a trend on TikTok where they post videos of everyone being so done with you two.”
“What?” I ask, frowning. That doesn’t sound good. But Rama and Pravat are both smiling.
Rama searches his phone and then hands it to me. P’Park looks over my shoulder.
The first video is of me and P’Park standing in a crowd at a recent event. The caption says, “The only two people in the room.” Behind us, two other actors from SPPT are watching us and then look at each other as though to say, “Oh, brother,” before walking away.
The next one is at a promotional event where we’re talking with the host about cosmetics. I begin blending a cream into P’Park’s cheek while he’s looking at me, both of us unaware that everyone standing around us is making teasing faces about our closeness. Are we really that obvious?
A third video shows P’Park coming up behind me as I talk to P’Daeng at the studio and wrapping his arms around my neck. The caption reads, “Someone’s possessive!” Face hot, I hand Rama his phone and move to the table to get some punch.
“Is there something we should know?” Pravat asks. “Or are you two just fantastic at fanservice?”
“Uh…” P’Park hesitates.
Turning back to them, I say, “Think whatever you want to think. That’s what we tell our fans.”
“But we’re not your fans,” Pravat says, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me closer. “We’re your friends. And you know what Rama and I are to each other.”
Face heating, I look to P’Park for permission to out us as a couple.
“Nong and I are dating,” P’Park says, pulling me out of Pravat’s embrace and into his own. I look around, but no one’s within hearing distance, and it’s normal for shipped couples to be affectionate at events like these.
“Congratulations,” Rama says, patting me on the shoulder. “Does anyone else know?”
“Just those close to us. We don’t plan to tell anyone else for now,” P’Park says, and I nod agreement.
Later, as he’s driving me home, P’Park asks, “Are you sorry that Pravat and Rama know about us?”
“No, not at all. I just wasn’t sure if you wanted them to know.”
“It’s fine with me. It’s probably better that everyone at work doesn’t find out, though.”
“Yeah, I agree.”
P’Park has to get back home to Anya, so I kiss him goodbye in front of my building.