Chapter 9| I Will Never Forget You| Love Detectives

He looked into William's eyes, feeling a connection that went beyond words. Neither wanted to break the spell, but eventually, Ash whispered, "Thank you for today."

William smiled, his grip on Ash's waist tightening briefly before letting go. "Anytime, Ash. Anytime."With a final, lingering look, Ash turned and entered his home, his heart pounding with a mix of emotions. As he leaned against the door, a smile spread across his face. The day had been perfect, filled with unexpected moments and budding feelings. And as he lay in bed that night, he replayed every moment in his mind, knowing that this was just the beginning of something beautiful.In his heart, he hoped for many more days like this, filled with laughter, companionship, and the promise of a blossoming connection with William.Ash could hardly contain his excitement. After the incredible day spent with William, he couldn't stop thinking about him. Every interaction, every smile, every word exchanged replayed in his mind, filling him with warmth and hope. One thought kept nagging at him, though: Did William feel the same way? Did William love him?Conflicted, Ash decided to confide in his best friend, Eva. They had been friends since childhood, and he knew she would understand his feelings and offer the best advice.Eva was lounging in her favorite chair when Ash arrived at her apartment, his expression a mix of joy and confusion. "Hey, Eva," he greeted, flopping down on the couch beside her."Hey, Ash! You look like you just discovered a new planet. What's up?" she asked, noticing his unusual demeanor.Ash hesitated for a moment, then blurted out, "I think I have a crush on William."Eva's eyes widened, and a mischievous grin spread across her face. " Oh, really? Who is William ? Tell me everything!"Ash recounted the events of the past few days, from the magical evening with the fireflies to the visit to the mountain and the amusement park. Eva listened intently, her smile growing wider with each detail."And then, last night, when he caught me as I was about to fall, I felt something... something more," Ash finished, his voice barely above a whisper.Eva clapped her hands together, unable to hide her excitement. "This is so adorable! But, Ash, you have to find out if he feels the same way. You can't just keep wondering.""That's the problem," Ash admitted, "I don't know if he loves me. What if he doesn't? What if he already has someone else?"Eva's grin turned into a thoughtful expression. "Well, there's only one way to find out. We need to do some detective work. Let's gather some intel on William."Ash looked at her, puzzled. "What do you mean?""I mean, we need to find out if William has a lover even he said that he has no one or if someone is interested in him, and what his daily routine is like. We're going on a mission, Ash. Operation: Love Detectives!"Ash couldn't help but laugh at Eva's enthusiasm. "Are you serious?""Absolutely! This will be fun. Plus, it'll give me a chance to see if William is as amazing as you think he is," Eva said, winking at him.The next morning, they began their mission. Dressed in their "detective" outfits—complete with sunglasses and hats—they set off to William's office. Eva, ever the strategist, had already done some research and found out where his office.They parked a safe distance from the office building and watched as people streamed in and out. Ash felt a bit silly but couldn't deny the thrill of their adventure."Okay, Ash. Keep an eye out for William," Eva instructed, peering through her binoculars.After a few minutes, they spotted William walking into the building. He looked as handsome as ever, his confident stride making Ash's heart skip a beat."Got him!" Eva whispered. "Now, let's see if we can find out more about his colleagues. Maybe they'll give us some clues."They waited until lunchtime, then followed William to a nearby café where he often grabbed a quick bite. Ash and Eva slipped into a booth a few tables away, trying to blend in while eavesdropping on William's conversation with one of his secretary."Did you hear about the new project ?" secretary asked."Yeah, sounds interesting. It's going to be a busy few weeks," William replied.Eva nudged Ash. "See? He's focused on work. That's a good sign. No mention of a significant other."They continued their surveillance throughout the day, gathering bits and pieces of information. By the time William left the office, they felt they had a good understanding of his professional life."Next stop, his gym," Eva declared, consulting her list of places William frequented.They followed William to a nearby gym and watched as he worked out. Eva couldn't help but admire his dedication, while Ash felt his crush growing even stronger."He's so disciplined," Eva commented. "And look at those muscles. No wonder you're smitten."Ash blushed, trying to focus on their mission. "stay focused, Eva. We need to find out more."After the gym, their next destination was a bar that William visited regularly. They arrived early and took a seat near the back, hoping to blend in with the crowd.As the evening wore on, the bar filled with people. Ash and Eva watched as William entered, greeted by several friends. They observed his interactions, noting that he seemed friendly and well-liked but didn't appear to have a romantic partner."Okay, this is it," Eva whispered. "We need to find out if anyone here is interested in him."They split up, each trying to gather information from different parts of the bar. Ash struck up a conversation with one of William's friends, trying to steer the topic towards relationships." Is that guy is William the CEO of BLUE LOG company. So, does William come here to see his girlfriend?" Ash asked casually.The friend shook his head. " nah, I think, he was study in abroad for years, so we don't know more details I think he's single. He's pretty focused on his career right now. Why do you ask?""Oh, just curious. He seems like a great guy," Ash replied, his heart soaring with relief.Meanwhile, Eva was chatting with the bartender, who confirmed that William usually came alone and hadn't shown any interest in anyone specific.Feeling triumphant, they regrouped at their table, exchanging excited looks. "Mission accomplished," Eva said, grinning. "William is single and, from what we can tell, not seeing anyone."Ash felt a mix of joy and nervousness. "So, what now?"Eva leaned in, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Now, my dear Ash, you need to make your move. You've got to let him know how you feel."Before Ash could respond, William approached their table, a curious look on his face. "Ash? What are you doing here and who is she?"Ash's heart raced, but he tried to stay calm. "Oh, hey, William. This is my best friend Eva. We were just... hanging out. What about you?"William smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Same here. Mind if I join you?"Eva quickly scooted over, making room for him. "Of course, join us!"As they chatted, Eva subtly guided the conversation, giving Ash opportunities to express his feelings. At one point, she excused herself to the restroom, leaving Ash and William alone.Just then, Eva returned, a knowing smile on her face as she has a master plan "Everything okay here?""Better than okay," Ash replied, grinning.They ordered drinks and began to relax, enjoying each other's company. As the night progressed, some of William's friends joined their table, and Eva suggested playing a game."How about we play a game?" Eva proposed. "It'll be fun!"William and his friends agreed, curious but enthusiastic. They decided to play a classic game of spinning the bottle. The rules were simple: whoever the bottle pointed to had to answer a question from the rest of the group.The first spin landed on William, and Eva seized the opportunity to ask her question. "So, William, what's your idea of a perfect date?"William thought for a moment, then smiled. "A perfect date would be something simple but meaningful. Maybe a walk in the park, followed by dinner at a cozy restaurant. Just spending quality time together."The bottle spun again, pointing to one of William's friends, who asked Eva if she was single. She laughed. "No, I am taken."Round after round, the questions ranged from light-hearted to personal, with everyone getting more relaxed and tipsy as the night went on. Ash noticed that William was starting to look concerned, especially as Ash became visibly drunk."Guys, I think we should stop the game," William said, his voice firm. "Most of us are pretty drunk."Everyone agreed, and they began to gather their things. As they left the bar, they split up to head home. William Pick up Ash and put his head into his shoulder and turned to Eva , feeling worried."Eva, can you take Ash home? He's really drunk," William asked.Eva, acting tipsy herself, waved dismissively. "Oh, I called my boyfriend to pick me up. He should be here any minute."Sure enough, Eva's boyfriend arrived, and she ran to him, hugging him tightly. Without giving Ash's home address, she and her boyfriend quickly drove away, leaving William to take care of Ash.William sighed, then gently supported Ash. "Come on, let's get you home."They made their way to William's car, and William drove Ash to his own home. Carefully, he helped Ash inside and guided him to the bed. As he was about to leave, Ash grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the bed. William was shocked and his heart started beating fast.Ash looked up at him with half-closed eyes, a sleepy smile on his face. "Don't go," he mumbled.William couldn't help but smile at Ash's cuteness. He gently adjusted Ash's hair, smoothing it away from his face. Leaning down, he placed a soft kiss on Ash's forehead."Sleep well, Ash," William whispered, trying to pull away.But Ash's grip on his hand tightened. "Stay," he pleaded softly.William hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't deny that he wanted to stay, to be there for Ash. Slowly, he sat down on the edge of the bed, their hands still intertwined.Ash's eyes fluttered open briefly, and he gave William a sleepy, contented smile. "Thanks for taking care of me, Willi."William's heart melted at the nickname. "Anytime, Ash. Now get some rest."Ash nodded, his eyes closing again as he drifted off to sleep. William stayed by his side, watching over him and feeling a deep sense of affection and protectiveness. He knew that this moment was the beginning of something special, something that he wanted to nurture and cherish.As the night went on, William couldn't help but reflect on the day's events. From the playful game with Ash to the sweet and tender moment, he realized just how much Ash meant to him. He had found someone who made his heart race and his world brighter.With a gentle squeeze of Ash's hand, William finally allowed himself to rest. He knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, their friendship is leading to love.And Ash didn't know a rope on William's heart was drag himself towards Ash.......