Chapter 15

(Tankhun POV)

It had been 15 minutes since he had left Chan at the door of his penthouse, and Tankhun still felt his cheeks heat up a little. He had to admit though, his response to Chan was different from his response to any other men, and frankly, Tankhun still hadn't decided whether he liked it or not. As a healthy 30 year old male, Tankhun was far from innocent. He had a healthy dose of one night stands and he also casually dated here and there - though his relationship never lasted more than 3 months, mostly only lasting for 1 month. And up until now, Tankhun had never been involved in a long-term relationship. So, why oh why, one gentle kiss on his neck by the Captain making him flustered like a teenager?

Suddenly, the conversation he had with Kinn and Porsche last month at the Moonlight, emerged. He remembered how those two literally begged him to open his heart for a serious relationship, but Tankhun always thought, no matter how short the relationship, he was never playing around. Hm… could he be wrong this time? Or maybe, what Kinn and Porsche said to him back then was true. That Tankhun was so focused on his younger brothers, especially Kim, therefore he wasn't aware that he was always subconsciously avoiding commitments.

Should I give this, whatever it is, a chance?

But what he and Chan had was madness! Their first meeting was chaotic, their second and third meetings were equally crazy, spiced up by Tankhun's desire to always make Chan lose his mind and annoyed as hell, as revenge for daring to trap him in this deal. A deal which Tankhun considered in his mind, not fair at all. This relationship, if you can call it one, had been fucked up from the start. So, how could he possibly give this a chance to flourish?

A knock, which wasn't really that loud, on the Range Rover's side window next to the driver's seat, startled Tankhun. The doctor immediately unlocked the door so Chan could get into the car. Instead of putting on his seat-belt and running the car, Chan turned his body to face Tankhun. Just a glance at the expression on his face and Tankhun knew right away that Chan meant to apologize, and Tankhun wouldn't let him.

"Stop," ordered Tankhun curtly. "If you mean to apologize for what happened earlier, I swear to God, I'll hit you. We're both adults and have enough experience to know that sometimes physical reactions are unavoidable. It's all science. There, I say it."

"I won't apologize for that, Sweetbuns," Chan replied with a grin. "Somehow I feel you'd be more offended if my body didn't react the way it should."

Did he just compliment-

"Fuck you very much, Chan. It's Doctor, and you're absolutely correct," announced Tankhun, who was also grinning. "My buns are sweet, and they never fail to get the appreciation they deserve."

"And I bet, they will never fail," affirmed Chan, smirking and staring intently into Tankhun's eyes.

"Sweet mouth," responded Tankhun, whose face started to heat up again.

Tankhun Theerapanyakul, what the fuck are you doing? Stop flirting now!

"But you meant to apologize to me just now, right? " inquired Tankhun, who at the same time tried to divert the conversation. "What for?"

"You read me quite well, Doctor, and I sincerely apologize for things that I'm about to say," said Chan, beginning to explain. "I wouldn't even blame you, if you decide to beat me to a pulp afterward, because I really think I deserve it."

"Okay, now you scare me," replied Tankhun. "If it's about the third task, which I'm one hundred percent sure is to be your date at the award ceremony, aren't your words just now an exaggeration? I'm totally fine with it."

"I wish it were that simple, Tankhun, and I haven't started explaining to you about the situation that we'll be facing in the next 3 months."

"What situation? And what's with 3 months?" asked Tankhun, who was starting to feel a bit wary.

Chan sighed and brushed his black hair back with his fingers before replying, "The award ceremony will be held 3 months from now."

"O~h, I'll just put it in my schedule then, so you don't have to worry I can't make it. Just tell me the exact date and of course, the dress code."

"Tankhun, the awards ceremony itself is the least thing that I'm worried about," said Chan. "It was the time before the ceremony that made me feel so bad… for you."

"But why?" asked Tankhun. "We just need to do our jobs as usual. When the award night comes, all you have to do is pick me up, I will wear the most fabulous outfit, you'll receive your special award, then you drive me home, my tasks are done and the apology is complete. The End."

"But Anna wouldn't let us do that."

Hearing the name of the most unpleasant woman he has ever met suddenly made Tankhun see everything from a different perspective.

No no no... Oh God...

Suddenly all of Chan's nervousness and demeanor just now made sense. How could he forget about the ex from hell!? Tankhun felt so stupid at that moment.

"I'm sorry," stated the Captain, who seemed to have read the situation from the look on Tankhun's face. Apparently, Chan could read him quite well too.

But Tankhun was still too overwhelmed to respond to Chan's apology.

"The thing that Anna hates the most is losing and being wrong," Chan elaborated. "So, she's going to do her best to prove that she's right, and once she has the proof, she's going to make such a big deal about it."

"And how exactly is she going to look for evidence?" asked the Doctor.

But, before Chan could answer him, Tankhun already made his own guess.

"Don't tell me she's going to send someone to secretly spy on our movements?"

"Worse. Anna will send the paparazzi to follow you around," answered Chan.

Tankhun gasped.

"So... it's a possibility that my pics will be posted on the media?"

"Tankhun, I'm afraid it's not only a possibility but a certainty."

"Oh, God."

"I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have lied and said you're my boyfriend," said Chan as he leaned the back of his head against the headrest of the driver's seat, his right palm covering the top of his face. "And now, you're entangled in this madness."

Tankhun started to chuckle, which then gradually escalated into big laughter.

Tankhun knew this wasn't funny, and he also wondered why he was still capable of laughing. Maybe the circumstances had made him lose it. However, what choice was left for him but to laugh at the situation and then face it? This option was so much better than being emotional and miserable.

"Tankhun?"

And Chan didn't help the matter at all. His confused face when he saw Tankhun's response, which definitely didn't live up to his expectations, was so hilarious. Tankhun laughed so hard he cried.

"Oh my God… Kim," said Tankhun, wiping his tears with the back of his hand.

"Kim? You confused me, Doctor."

"Chan, stop giving me that confused look, or I couldn't stop laughing."

"Stop confusing me then," responded Chan. And of course, that damn amused smile has to be etched on the captain's handsome face. Though this time, it really got to him.

Fuck!

Tankhun took a deep breath, trying to pull himself together.

"It just struck me now how all of this started because I love my youngest brother too much. Your autograph is damn expensive, Chan."

"Believe me, Tankhun, I didn't expect things to turn out like this."

"Yeah, I know," acknowledged Tankhun. "So I guess for the next three months I'll be fake dating the great Captain of BSFC, huh?"

"Yes."

"Well, Tankhun Theerapanyakul never do anything half-heartedly. If we're going to do this, then we're going to do it right."

"Hey, thank you so much for doing this, Tankhun. I feel very bad. Truly."

Tankhun just waved his hand as a response.

"We need to talk about the mechanism and the details for this, Chan, as well as the boundaries," said Tankhun.

"Of course."

"And I don't think I can do it completely sober."

"Absolutely. Tomorrow night at the Moonlight?"

"Yes. We do need an ally."

"Okay then," said Chan as he put on his seat-belt and started to drive his car out of the parking lot. "We better catch up with the boys before they send a search party for us."

"Hn."

Tankhun knew that he was a resilient man. His life experiences made him into who he was today, and he was always ready to take on anything. But he never, not in a million years, ever thought that he would have to face a situation that was so unreal, he felt like he was inside a rom-com flick.

Que sera, sera…

TBC

AN:

What's a rom-com story without a fake dating trope, right? ;-)