Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Sparks and Schemes

The late afternoon sun poured golden light into Deen's small apartment, casting shadows that danced across the walls. Deen paced nervously, glancing at his phone for what felt like the hundredth time. Lila was due any minute, and the plan was simple yet audacious: they would pretend to be a couple, and the goal was to make Thai realize just how much he missed Deen.

When the door swung open, Lila stepped in, her infectious energy lighting up the room. "Ready for our little act?" she asked, a teasing grin on her lips.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Deen replied, trying to suppress his anxiety. "Just hope Thai takes the bait."

"Trust me, with how stubborn he is, we need to turn up the heat," Lila said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Let's give him a show he won't forget."

As they plotted their next move, Deen couldn't shake the feeling that they were treading dangerous waters. But with Thai's growing distance, they had to do something.

Their first stop was the bustling park downtown. They'd agreed to create a scenario that felt casual but would make Thai feel like an outsider. They found a sunny spot under a sprawling tree, and Lila immediately settled in, pulling out a picnic blanket.

"Let's make it cozy," she said, arranging snacks and drinks like they were planning a romantic getaway.

"Just keep it light," Deen warned, a half-smile on his face. "We don't want him to think we're too serious."

Lila rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on! A little passion won't hurt. Besides, if we're going to do this, let's do it right." She leaned closer, her tone playful. "Now, when Thai shows up, we have to act natural. Be flirty, but not over-the-top."

"Flirty, got it," Deen said, though he felt a wave of apprehension wash over him.

As they settled in, laughter and chatter filled the air, but Deen's heart raced at the thought of Thai walking in. It felt like a game—a dangerous one—but he was determined to see it through.

Just as they started to munch on their snacks, Thai appeared in the distance, a skeptical look on his face as he approached. Deen's heart pounded louder. This was it.

"Hey, what's going on here?" Thai called out, his voice a mixture of surprise and disbelief.

"Thai! Perfect timing!" Lila exclaimed, her excitement almost theatrical. "Join us! We were just having a little picnic."

Deen forced a smile, trying to mask his nerves. "Yeah, just hanging out, enjoying the weather."

Thai crossed his arms, skepticism written all over his face. "So, this is what you've been up to?" he said, eyeing Lila and then Deen.

"Pretty much," Lila said, winking at Deen as she settled closer to him on the blanket. "Deen and I have been having a great time together. Right, Deen?"

"Absolutely," Deen added, his stomach twisting. He leaned slightly toward Lila, hoping it would look natural. "Just taking a break from everything."

"Uh-huh," Thai said, his tone flat. "Looks like you two are pretty chummy."

Lila nudged Deen playfully, her laughter bubbling over. "We're practically inseparable! Just wait until you hear about our plans for the weekend."

"What plans?" Thai asked, curiosity breaking through his initial defensiveness.

"Oh, just a little road trip!" Lila declared, her voice cheerful. "We thought it would be fun to hit the coast and have some adventure."

Deen shot Lila a look of surprise. "Wait, I thought we were just—"

"Details, details!" she interrupted, her eyes dancing with mischief. "Thai, you should come with us! It'd be like old times, right?"

"I don't think so," Thai replied, a flicker of something deeper in his eyes. "I'm busy."

"Busy doing what? Avoiding us?" Lila challenged, leaning forward. "Come on, it would be fun! You could use a break."

Thai shifted uncomfortably, his jaw tightening. "I don't need a break. I'm fine."

Deen felt a spark of hope as he saw the crack in Thai's facade. "You sure? It's just a weekend. Just the three of us, hanging out, like we used to."

Lila nudged Deen again, this time more deliberately. "You know, it could remind you of how much you miss having fun with us. Sometimes you need to shake things up!"

Thai's gaze flicked between them, his defenses slowly crumbling. "What if I don't want to see you two together like that?" he muttered, a mix of frustration and hurt.

"Why not?" Lila pressed, her tone lightening. "It's just love airing around us and we feel the romance, right, Deen?"

Deen hesitated, his heart racing. "Yeah, just love in the air," he echoed, trying to maintain the illusion. "But it doesn't have to mean anything." Right?

"Right," Lila chimed in. "We're actually dating."

As Thai's expression shifted from disbelief to contemplation, Deen felt a surge of determination. This was working after seeing Thai's actions, frastrated almost burning up—maybe better than they'd hoped.

"Look, Thai," Deen said, his voice steady. "We're here because we care about you. We want you to see what you're missing. Maybe our love will show you what's really important in life."

A flicker of something—longing, perhaps—crossed Thai's face before he masked it with indifference. "You think a little show is going to change anything?"

"Maybe it will," Lila shot back, her tone softening. "You just have to be willing to see it or maybe face it."

The tension in the air hung thick, and for a moment, it felt like anything could happen. Would Thai confront his feelings? Would this charade bring them closer, or would it push him further away?

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows, Deen realized they were walking a tightrope. He wasn't sure how far they could take this, but one thing was certain: they were in for a wild ride, and the outcome was still very much in the air.

To be continued....