Past and Opportunity

It was noon at the flower shop, and the quiet atmosphere was only disturbed by the soft breeze flowing through the window. Suddenly, the door creaked open, and the wind chime gently rang, signaling the arrival of a customer. Faisal stepped inside, his gaze slowly scanning every corner. But judging by his demeanor, he didn't seem to be here to buy flowers. It was as if he was searching for something.

Suddenly, a hand lightly patted Faisal's shoulder.

-"Hey… You again? Are you here to buy flowers? I can help you with that!" Yod appeared with a bright smile, his voice full of enthusiasm.

-"Ah… No… I'm not here to buy flowers." Faisal hesitated slightly, his eyes avoiding Yod's gaze.

-"Then why are you here? Do you need something? I can help, you know?" Yod tilted his head, curious but still maintaining his friendly demeanor.

Faisal remained silent for a few seconds before looking directly at Yod and saying decisively:

-"I came to find you."

Yod blinked, surprised by the straightforward response.

-"Find me?"

Faisal nodded, not beating around the bush:

-"Can you give me your contact information?"

-"Huh?" Yod looked puzzled.

-"I find you quite interesting, so I'd like to keep in touch. If something comes up in the future, I'll know how to reach you." Faisal explained calmly, the corner of his lips curling into a slight smile.

Yod stared at him for a moment before chuckling.

-"Ah… Sure! Let's add each other on Line?"

-"Yeah." Faisal nodded, handing over his phone.

As he was typing, Yod mumbled to himself:

-"Your name… Faisal… It sounds really familiar…"

He frowned, trying to recall where he had heard it before, but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't remember. Faisal, watching the adorable expression, chuckled softly and replied in a slow, teasing voice:

-"Maybe it does…"

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In the office, the door opened, and Ying stepped inside with his usual composed demeanor. Immediately, he caught sight of Kanya already seated on the sofa, looking relaxed as if she had been waiting for a while.

-"Hello, Ying."

She flashed a half-smile.

-"So, you've already sent that kid Jay off?" Her tone carried a hint of satisfaction.

Ying didn't respond. He simply walked straight to his desk and sat down, his expression cold and unreadable.

-"If you have something to say, say it quickly. I don't have time."

Kanya leaned back against the sofa, amusement flickering in her eyes.

-"You always seem to have time for others, but when it comes to me, you're always busy, huh?"

She spoke calmly, as if she was long accustomed to this kind of treatment from him.

-"If it's nothing important, you can leave. I have work to do." Ying's voice remained indifferent, his eyes not even bothering to meet hers.

-"Fine, I won't waste time." Kanya shrugged before placing a stack of documents on the desk, right in front of him.

-"I have a project here that I think you might be interested in. Care to take a look?"

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The fitting session unfolded in a bustling atmosphere. Designers focused intently on each outfit, meticulously inspecting every stitch to ensure perfection before they hit the runway.

Chirawan stood with her arms crossed, her sharp gaze scanning each design, assessing everything from the silhouette to the fabric. She didn't tolerate any mistakes. Isra was also observing seriously, but every time she glanced at a sketch or examined an outfit, she unconsciously reached up to rub her head.

That small gesture didn't escape Chirawan's keen eyes.

-"What's wrong? Not feeling well?" Her voice rang out—not harsh, but firm.

Isra flinched, quickly waving her hand in dismissal, forcing a smile to reassure her.

-"Ah… No, I'm fine. Let's keep going."

Chirawan narrowed her eyes, clearly unconvinced. Isra could feel the invisible pressure from her. Finally, unable to withstand that scrutinizing gaze, she confessed.

-"Actually… I'm feeling a bit unwell. I might have a fever." Isra mumbled, lowering her eyes, too nervous to meet Chirawan's expression.

For a moment, the room fell silent.

Without another word, Chirawan decisively turned to the others in the room, her commanding voice cutting through the air.

-"Stop everything. We're done for today."

Everyone exchanged surprised glances, caught off guard. Before anyone could react, Isra panicked, worried that the fitting session was being interrupted because of her.

-"Chirawan… I can still continue—"

-"I have something urgent to take care of, so we're stopping here." Chirawan's voice was cold and unquestionable. "If anyone asks, tell them it was my decision."

Without waiting for a response, she bent down, gathering both her bag and Isra's belongings. Then, she picked them up, walked over, and took Isra's hand. Her voice, now softer but still firm, carried an undeniable authority.

-"Let's go home."

Isra froze, caught off guard. Before she could protest, she was already being pulled along. She wasn't used to this assertive side of Chirawan, yet beneath that cold demeanor, she could feel the hidden concern.

Inside the fitting room, no one dared to speak against her decision. While Chirawan was seen as a playful, eccentric friend, in the workplace, she was a true queen—someone whose words held absolute weight, leaving no room for argument.

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The bar was lively at night, filled with pulsing music and the cheerful chatter of groups of people. But in a quieter corner near the liquor counter, Ying sat alone, quietly sipping the amber liquid in his glass. His tailored business suit remained untouched, and the sharp contours of his face, along with his composed demeanor, exuded an irresistible aura.

From a distance, Faisal approached, a hint of guilt flickering across his face when he noticed Ying's less-than-pleased expression.

-"Have you been here long?" Faisal asked, trying to sound natural.

Ying set his glass down, crossing his arms as the corner of his lips curled into a lazy smirk.

-"Since last month."

That teasing tone made Faisal chuckle, though he couldn't shake off the guilt entirely.

-"Ah… Sorry, I got caught up with something and arrived late."

-"Something personal, or someone?" Ying's voice was indifferent, but his expression suggested he already knew the answer—he just wanted Faisal to admit it himself.

Faisal raised an eyebrow before unexpectedly laughing.

-"You really are my best friend. You know me too well." He gave a thumbs-up in mock admiration before swiftly pouring himself a drink.

Ying tilted his head slightly, his sharp eyes glinting with amusement.

-"Male or female?"

-"Male," Faisal replied, taking a sip of his drink before continuing at a leisurely pace. "Petite figure, fair skin. Owns a flower shop. Incredibly knowledgeable about flowers—I've never seen anyone love them as much as he does. In short, he's adorable…"

As he spoke, a subtle excitement gleamed in his eyes.

Observing this, Ying's lips curved into a knowing smirk.

-"Thinking of switching careers to become a novelist? The love story of 'The CEO and the Florist' sounds quite intriguing."

Faisal let out a helpless laugh, shaking his head.

-"I think there's another story that's far more interesting."

Ying raised an eyebrow.

-"And what would that be?"

Faisal smirked, enunciating each word deliberately.

-"The story of 'The Boy Next Door Who Loved Deeply and the Talented Young Singer'."

This time, Ying's expression shifted, his brows knitting together slightly.

-"What do you mean?"

-"I mean, I wonder if a certain singer named Jay is aware of the feelings the boy next door has for him." Faisal propped his elbow on the bar, his gaze filled with curiosity as he waited for Ying's reaction.

A brief silence stretched between them before Ying lifted his glass and downed his drink.

-"He already likes someone else."

Faisal was quiet for a few seconds before letting out a sigh.

-"Is that so? What do you think about 'stealing the flower pot'?"

He half-joked, but deep down, he felt that might be Ying's only chance.

Ying cast a side glance at Faisal, his voice calm but laced with an underlying danger.

-"I'll smash your flower pot first."

Faisal flinched before letting out a defeated laugh.

-"Damn, no need to be so aggressive. But honestly, I think you still have a chance. Don't give up."

Ying fell silent, seemingly contemplating something. After a while, he finally spoke, his voice deep and carrying an unspoken weight.

-"Do you think… he still hates me?"

Faisal raised an eyebrow, then scratched his chin as if seriously pondering the question.

-"Probably, but maybe it's just lingering resentment? Everyone makes mistakes. Especially at that age—it's easy to be impulsive."

Ying remained pensive, his gaze distant as if reminiscing about the past. He knew Faisal was right, but that didn't ease the guilt weighing on him.

Seeing his friend lost in thought, Faisal patted his shoulder and said, his tone carrying a hint of reassurance,

-"But hey, I can see you've been trying to change. Even I admire the person you've become now."

Ying let out a faint chuckle—a laugh tinged with helplessness.

-"But the person I want… doesn't see me the same way anymore."

Faisal sighed and refilled both their glasses.

-"I wouldn't be so sure about that. You two haven't seen each other in ten years—it's bound to be awkward. If you spend more time together, things might slowly fall back into place."

-"But it's a pity…" Ying muttered, gazing at his drink. "He didn't choose to stay."

With that, he tilted his head back and emptied his glass.

Faisal watched him silently before raising his own glass.

-"Yeah… a pity indeed."

They clinked their glasses together and downed their drinks in one go.

Trying to lighten the mood, Faisal suddenly chuckled.

-"Enough about your troubles. What about you? Not planning to look for someone else?"

Ying arched an eyebrow and replied nonchalantly,

-"If you've got a good candidate in mind, go for it. Just don't end up like me."

Faisal laughed.

-"Got it. Besides, the person I'm interested in isn't leaving the country."

-"Who knows?" Ying smirked teasingly.

Faisal shot him a side glance before swiftly grabbing a piece of fruit from the plate and tossing it at Ying.

-"You jerk…"

Ying casually caught the fruit mid-air with ease and, without hesitation, popped it into his mouth.

-"Thanks."

Faisal could only shake his head, exasperated yet amused. The two of them continued drinking, letting the alcohol momentarily blur the unresolved emotions lingering in their hearts.

Tonight, they might not find all the answers they sought, but at least, for now, they could drown their troubles in a little intoxication.

End of Chapter 19