Chapter 4

(Chan's POV)

"You!?"

"Hi~ Yes, it's me," answered that guy candidly, his pink ( Yes, PINK! ) sunglasses perched on his straight nose perfectly. "It's good to know you still remember me."

"Yeah, like it's possible to forget you!" stated Chan, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Indeed, I take that as a compliment, by the way. Thank you~" replied the guy sweetly as he smiled. SMILED!

The nerve of this guy. Ugh!

"It's not," barked Chan curtly, as he pressed the remote to unlock his car. Then, he moved quickly to open the rear trunk of his SUV to put in his duffel bag, ball bag, football boots, and other belongings, to the car. "O~h boy, trust me, it's definitely not."

"I come in peace…" declared the guy – still smiling, before stretching out his right hand toward Chan. "…and a sincere apology. So here we go, Caramel Frappuccino with Double Whipped Cream and Chocolate Chips on top."

"No, thank you," Chan replied coldly, trying hard to keep his face expressionless, even though deep down he wanted to smack this person in front of him.

"But I got your coffee order right! Exactly like two-"

"How do you get into this parking area? No one can enter here except BSFC players and staff."

Chan cut off the words of the person he considered as the bane of his existence fast as lightning, he didn't want to remember the most embarrassing incident of his life ever again.

Finally, the smile wiped out from the person's face. It seemed like only a very few people, or perhaps nobody, ever dared to interrupt his speech. Because the expression on his face immediately changed 180 degrees. He retracted the hand which he had extended earlier, lifting his chin slightly before opening his mouth.

"I'm Tankhun Theerapanyakul, I have my own way."

"That's not answering my question at all and I need to report this to the stadium management if there's a breach in their secu-"

"Oh, please~ so overreacting."

Did he… just cut me off? AND rolling his eyes at me!?

Chan was so ready to scold this Tan… Tan ... whatever his name was, but he was too late.

"Look, mister, I know I've wronged you, but I didn't do it on purpose. And I had absolutely no intention of embarrassing you or destroying your reputation or whatever malice intent you think I'm capable of. I really thought that no one would hear my request at that time, but in the end, it was that kid who announced your presence at the cafe, right?"

Of course, what he said was all true, but to think that this person didn't get any bad consequences whatsoever from that incident was really hard to accept.

"But still, you are the one who started it. That kid wouldn't know it was me, if it wasn't for you."

"You are the one who showed up at the café. Stupid thing to do when you knew that place full of your fans, right, Daddy Chan?"

"I was in disguise!"

"I still recognized you, didn't I?"

"Then, you should keep your mouth SHUT!" shouted Chan at the top of his lungs. So loud that the man in front of him took a step back.

Chan was completely shocked at himself, he had never been this rude with anyone before, but this tall, slender human being with an attitude in front of him, had completely made him lose control.

"I apologize for being rude, this matter ends here, okay? I'm out," said Chan, his hand was already on the handle of his car.

"Wait, you can't do this to me," yelled this Tan something guy. " Unless, this is your intention all along."

"And what is that?" asked Chan as he turned his body to face him.

"Making me feel like I'm the bad guy… making me feel guilty."

"I am not, okay?" reassured Chan.

"Then, could you just please take this for me?" asked Tan, once again stretching out his right hand to him.

"Why?"

He took a deep breath before answering Chan, "Do you have any idea how painful it is for me to order this atrocious drink?"

Ah, there he is.

Chan was actually glad he didn't break this guy's spirit with his rude behavior just now. He had to admit that this Tan person was quite interesting. "Fine, give me that."

Suddenly from behind this person, appeared Coach Vadim. Chan thanked all the deities in this world that he hadn't touched the Frappuccino at all, instead he quickly grabbed the coffee that was in Tan's left hand.

"Hey, it's-"

"COACH!" shouted Chan louder than necessary, but for his sake he needed Tan to help him out of this situation. He just couldn't take another 20, not anymore.

"Chan!" greeted Coach Vadim, looking suspiciously at his drink. "Nothing super sweet inside that cup, hopefully?"

"Nope, Coach, just black coffee," stated Chan as he suddenly grabs Tan's shoulder and turns him around to face Coach Vadim. "You can ask my friend, Tan, he's the one who brought me coffee."

"Hi, Coach. Nice to meet you, I'm Tankhun."

Oh, it's Tankhun.

Coach Vadim just nodded his head to respond to Tankhun's greeting.

"Quite a festive drink you got there, young man, better watch the sugar."

Tankhun let out a super awkward laugh but thank God he was still following up with the charade.

"I'm in the process of cutting back, Coach, just once a week now."

"Today must be a special day, and I won't stop you from enjoying your drink any longer. So please…"

Fuck, why this old guy is so fucking nosy? He was so doomed. There's no way Tankhun will drink that.

When he heard the slurping sound that came from Tankhun's direction he could hardly believe his ears, even more so when he heard Tankhun's words.

"Ah~~~ that's good."

"I'll leave you two alone, then. Chan, I'll see you in three days."

"Yes, Coach."

Chan was literally counting the seconds until Tankhun exploded, and he didn't blame him at all if he did.

"Is he gone?" whispered Tankhun.

"Yes."

"FUCK, THAT'S VILE!" screamed Tankhun out loud. "YUCK!"

"C'mon, it's not that bad," chimed Chan.

The offended look that Tankhun threw at him just now, was out of this world.

"I don't mean to bring up bad memories or anything, but I 100% agree with your Coach's words in that video."

Instead of being annoyed because Tankhun mentioned the hellish video, Chan laughed like mad. This is the first time since the incident that he can laugh like this, and it felt glorious.

"What did he say anyway?"

"You're a lunatic who ruined good coffee by adding caramel to it."

Chan laughed again.

"He also said his ancestors will weep and roll in their graves if they find out about it."

… and laughed some more.

"Wait, you speak Italian?"

"More passive than active really. My listening comprehension is higher than my speaking ability."

"May I ask the reason?" asked Chan. "I mean, I have more compelling reasons to learn Italian than you because our Head Coach is an Italian man. But I never did."

Chan could feel Tankhun was a little hesitant to answer, and suddenly he felt bad.

"Please don't answer me if it's too personal."

"Stop with that face, nothing personal," explained Tankhun. "To be honest, the reason is a bit ridiculous, but I'm proud of my decision no matter what."

"Shoot."

"I'm crazy in love with The Godfather Trilogy, so I took a lesson for a whole year."

"Godfather, the mafia movie?"

"Yes," answered Tankhun, chin gloriously up in the air, daring Chan to tease him.

"I love the trilogy too."

"Thank God, at least now I know your taste in movies is not as bad as your taste in coffee."

"Ouch!"

This time, it was Tankhun who was laughing, and it sounds nice. Very nice indeed.

"I think we can all agree that we're even now. I helped you out of a tricky situation with your coach and drank the most disgusting coffee I've ever tasted to cover for you."

Chan knew that once he said yes, this matter would be closed and both of them could peacefully go back to their own lives. No need to bother each other anymore. But somehow, the Captain felt so reluctant to end all of this.

As if it had a thought of his own, his mouth then spit out words that shocked even himself.

"I'm so sorry, Tankhun, but I don't agree. We are actually trapped in a tricky situation just now because you have brought the coffee that you call vile here. In fact, I think your debt has increased."

"Huh?"

"Just think, if only you come here empty-handed…"

Chan, what the fuck are you doing!?

"But that coffee is the peace offering!" protested Tankhun.

"I know you have good intentions, but it almost ended up disastrous for me, again."

As soon as Tankhun's shoulders dropped, Chan became aware that this madness – which he himself still didn't know the exact reason for, had worked.

"Just tell me what I should do," requested Tankhun in a defeated tone.

TBC