How would he feel seeing me again after more than a decade apart? Pa-ploy asked herself as she stepped into the dining room of the grand hotel in Hua Hin, which served as a retreat and celebration venue for the team after successfully wrapping up the commercial shoot for the new condominium project under her company's brand.
She spotted him first, as she'd always done. Sitting at a table, he engaged in a lively conversation with someone beside him. His face was animated in his usual manner, and a broad smile made his handsome features even more captivating.
Just as handsome as before, or perhaps even more so, Pa-ploy told herself. From a high-school idol adored by girls, Kram had entered the entertainment industry, lured by a talent scout. His first acting role had catapulted him to stardom, followed by modeling for various clothing brands, gracing the covers of nearly every major magazine, and becoming the presenter for numerous products. He even released a solo album with several hit songs. She vividly remembered him playing guitar and singing on stage at a school event. Kram mightn't have had the best voice or excellent guitar skills, but he was the most charismatic. He could capture the audience's attention like no other.
Even though his later TV dramas hadn't been very successful, leading to much criticism about his future in the industry and dwindling income, Pa-ploy still had confidence in him... and she still believed, as she always had, that he was born to be a true superstar.
Penny, her personal assistant whom she'd sent to ensure everything went smoothly today, looked surprised when she saw her and quickly got up from her table to approach her boss.
"Did you come all the way from Bangkok, ma'am?"
"Uh-huh, I wanted to stop by and go over. Not that I don't trust you, just..." Pa-ploy trailed off, realizing her words sounded evasive and awkwardly defensive. Luckily, Penny didn't seem to mind, as she was preoccupied with other concerns.
"Will you be staying here as well? Let me arrange a room for you. Have you had dinner yet? I'll check the VIP table first; it seems like there's one spot available."
"If there's still a room available, it'd be great to stay. Don't worry about dinner or seating. Go ahead and take care of the room. I'm really adding to your workload, aren't I? Sorry about that. It was a last-minute decision."
The young assistant seemed ready to leave but then smiled slyly, lowering her voice to a whisper.
"Mr. Kram is really handsome in person, ma'am. You made a great choice, picking him as the presenter for the project. Earlier, I asked him to take a photo with me. I'll show you later!"
The excitement on the other's face made Pa-ploy unable to help but return the smile. She understood Penny's feelings well because she'd been in a similar position for much longer.
When had she started watching that young man, the most talked-about and outstanding schoolboy? Every Valentine's Day, she'd see Kram carrying a huge bouquet of flowers and a bag of chocolates onto the bus home. Even Ploypang, her best friend who rarely took an interest in any guy, would secretly talk to her about him regularly.
"Kram is so handsome, it's unbearable. A guy like him should exist in dozens, but to compete for his attention? I'm afraid I'd be lost in the queue. I mightn't even find the end of the line. I'll pass for now; I can't deal with heartbreak. Besides, I'm not ready to fall for anyone now."
As Ploypang said, Kram always had a queue of girls to choose from. However, despite that, there was never any evident news about him dating anyone seriously. At the very least, he never openly admitted to it. Moreover, once he reached his senior year of high school, he began to disappear, not participating in school activities and not socializing with anyone. Many speculated until the truth came out later—it was during the second semester, his path veered toward the entertainment industry, and he became a full-fledged celebrity.
Believe it or not, during her high school years, she and Kram had a chance to be close for a while before they drifted apart, with her never having revealed her feelings to him. He never reached out to her again.
"Please join at the table, ma'am. I have everything arranged," Penny's voice brought Pa-ploy back from her reverie. Pa-ploy looked at her lady assistant and saw an excited expression and sparkling eyes like a child's. "You'll be sitting next to Kram, perfect for chatting with a handsome guy, isn't that amazing?"
Pa-ploy shook her head at the other's meddling. For a moment, she almost declined, but then a deep inner drive made her accept. After all, she'd made an effort to drive all the way here; she might as well see him, perhaps leading to something she wasn't quite sure of yet... It was possible.
At least starting was better than standing still, wasn't it?
Kram turned and saw her when she was just a few steps away from the table. His dark eyebrows furrowed as if unsure, but his eyes recognized her.
"Pa-ploy..." he called her name with a voice not unlike the one from the past.
Pa-ploy's heart raced as she saw the handsome face that had been etched in her memory for so long.
"Kra-min," she called his real name in return, and he smiled.
"I didn't expect... to run into you here. How have you been? Take a seat."
Pa-ploy took a seat as invited. Glancing at Penny, she noticed her assistant's eyes wide open. She alternated between looking at her boss and the handsome actor with disbelief.
How does the boss know someone this good-looking? She could almost hear Penny's thoughts.
"Here are the car keys, Penny." She handed them over. "My bag is in the trunk. Could you please take it for me?" Penny took the keys, clearly confused.
Turning back around, Pa-ploy found Kram looking at her scrutinizingly.
"You haven't changed a bit," he said. "Still the same. Oh, you're not wearing glasses anymore."
"Contact lenses," she replied. "And you haven't changed either, Kram. I see you in the media often enough to remember."
"How many years has it been since we last saw each other?" he mused, counting on his fingers. "Since we graduated from high school, right? Over a decade now. Time flies."
"Time does fly, doesn't it?"
"Very much so. Anyway, it's good to see you. I wanted to thank you for allowing me to be the presenter for this project."
Pa-ploy raised an eyebrow.
"Isn't it because you lowered your fee?"
He laughed, showing his perfect white teeth.
"My fee has been falling for a while now, ever since the dramas I starred in kept flopping. I'm almost out of work, becoming a has-been. Do you have any jobs for me? Can I apply to work with you?"
Pa-ploy almost let slip a retort but bit her tongue just in time.
"We're hiring you right here," she replied with a smile. If we start another project, we'll hire you again. Maybe we should make a long-term contract, in case you become famous again. We can keep the same rate."
He looked at her, his expression unreadable, silent momentarily before speaking again with a serious, firm voice.
"Thank you so much. This means a lot to me, especially at a time like this. It reminds me of your mother. I always remember her. It's a shame I never had the chance to visit. May I stop by to see her if I return to Bangkok?"
His question made Pa-ploy swallow something that had risen to her throat.
"My mother passed away last month during the COVID period. We had a quiet ceremony and didn't tell anyone except close relatives."
Kram's eyes conveyed shock.
"That's terrible," he murmured. "Hearing this makes me feel even worse. I'm sorry, Ploy, I had no idea. You have my condolences."
"I've come to terms with it," Pa-ploy tried to keep her voice steady, though she felt deeply shaken inside. Hearing someone mention her recently deceased mother stirred an incredible pain, likely because of the strong bond they shared.
"So, what are your plans now? Are any new theater projects lined up? Must be tough working with COVID still around," she deflected, steering the conversation away from herself.
He shrugged.
"Just like I said, I've had three or four plays flop already. Producers must be having a hard time deciding whether to hire me. Right now, I'm essentially between jobs."
"Don't you want to try producing or directing yourself? I remember you told a school journal once that you wanted to be a director."
"It's so you, 'Prof' Ploy," Kram chuckled softly, recalling her school nickname. "You always had a good memory. Yeah, I've been thinking about trying my hand at directing, but there's a lot to consider—funding, starting anew, inspiration. Most importantly, I'm still struggling with the plot."
"If there's anything I can do to help, just let me know. I'm more than willing to support you, Kram."
"Are you offering to lend me money?" His tone was playful. "Sure, I'll let you know if I'm in a bind. Thanks in advance."
Penny returned with the room keycard, her assistant's confused expression prompting Pa-ploy to introduce the two.
"Penny, this is Kram, an old school friend of mine. Kram, this is Penny, my assistant."
Penny's eyes widened with excitement, though she restrained herself out of respect for her boss, managing to say,
"Your room is on the twenty-third floor, ma'am. I booked a room on the same floor as Mr.Kram, close by."
With this information, Pa-ploy's heartbeat quickened slightly but forced herself to maintain a normal expression.
"I'll go up and arrange my things now. Thank you for taking care of the room for me."
"You haven't eaten anything," her assistant remarked, noticing her empty plate. "Aren't you hungry?"
"Not yet, it's fine. I might order something from room service later."
"The dining room closes at half past nine," Penny warned.
"Thank you so much, Penny. Go take a rest. You've been working all day."
"I'll escort you to your room, then finish some work. If nothing else, I'll head back to my room."
Throughout the conversation, Kram watched the two women with a half-amused, half-surprised look. When he heard the final sentence, he spoke up for the first time.
"Would you allow me to escort your boss myself?"
Penny looked at the speaker, then turned to her boss, wondering how she'd decide.
"Don't worry, I'll go with Kram. And there's no need to fret about dinner; I'll definitely order something."
A few minutes later, Pa-ploy found herself standing in front of the room Penny had secured for her. Although she never displayed any opulence to her assistant, the latter must've wanted to perform her duties flawlessly and ensure her boss had the most comfortable rest possible, thus choosing a luxurious suite with a large bed and bathtub, a separate living room and kitchen, and even a seating area with a view.
Kram walked her to her room as promised, and along the way, they took turns talking about old times from their school days—precious memories that warmed the heart just thinking about them.
Pa-ploy felt slightly lost as she took out the key card, about to enter her room. The short distance had taken only fifteen minutes. Still, it'd incredibly filled her empty heart, and she wished she had some magic to freeze this moment in time or at least stretch it out as long as possible.
If everything ended tonight, she and Kram would have to part ways. Each would have their own path in life, and there would never be a day when they'd meet again.
If only she could do something about it.
"Get some rest. See you tomorrow," his farewell made Pa-ploy's heart sink, and as if he could read her mind, he said with a laugh,
"Still having a good time. Too bad I have to head to my room first."
That sentence triggered something in her, and without thinking, Pa-ploy blurted out,
"If you're not sleepy, do you want to come in and continue our chat? We could order something to drink and relax."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she was dumbfounded by her own boldness and feared he might misunderstand her intentions. What if he interpreted her invitation in a suggestive way? Maybe it'd be for the best if she jumped in a hole and never came out again.
Luckily, Kram didn't seem to take offense. He just laughed,
"If someone else were inviting me, I might get the wrong idea, but when you do it, I actually get scared."
"Scared of what?" Pa-ploy was confused.
"Scared of being plied with drinks," Kram continued to laugh in good spirits, unaware that the person before him could barely control herself. "Remember the day we played that celebration game after the final exams? Who was there again? Noppatee and Phee-mai, right? Oh man, I've never been as drunk as I was that day."
Pa-ploy jolted as if pricked by a needle, looking at his face, which was calm as if he was talking about the most ordinary thing. His demeanor gave her some comfort. It seemed like he'd forgotten about that day, or maybe he just couldn't remember, as it'd been a long time since.
Even though she felt relieved, a part of Pa-ploy felt a pang of sadness when she realized that what was an important memory to her was just a void to him. She knew what she was to him—just old friend 'Prof' Ploy. So it wasn't surprising that he wouldn't remember the finer details about her.
Muffled voices speaking something echoed faintly as Pa-ploy came back to her senses when Kram waved his hand in front of her face.
"Miss Daydreamer, what's it going to be? Are you playing or not? Or are you afraid you'll lose?"
"What did you say?" Pa-ploy asked, repeating his words, and the other responded with a wide grin that made his eyes sparkle mischievously.
"I asked if you're up for another round of that game. Are you playing or not? It's okay if you're scared of losing. We can just sit and chat. But if you're brave enough to compete, let's try playing again. Are you ready, Miss "Prof" Ploy?"
Paphloy looked into those challenging eyes, observed the mocking smile on his face, and felt a surge of blood rush to her cheeks, her heart pounding fiercely.
Before she knew it, she found herself accepting the challenge.