Both Porchay and Rain look at the tall building in front of them with a frown.

Porchay had said this to happy Rain just the night before this: that it is almost impossible for them to become interns in the same building and for them to both work for private-own companies that the leaders of the company are people who Chay can't dig the background.

It was fishy and Porchay knew exactly where the smell came from: their mates.

Their controlling possessive assholes, who can't just let them be and achieved something normal and natural, of mates.

Chay isn't even going to be surprised if Kim build this company just for the sake of Porchay's internship. It goes by the way his brain works. As for Rain... Well, Rain will take the harder fall as his naive friend didn't believe Phayu could create a company in his wake. Phayu hates to see Rain's struggle more than Kim to Porchay. With the money Phayu has, he certainly can afford to build an architecture firm for Rain.

Money is never an issue for Kim and Phayu.

So, the right thing he does now is to call his said mate. The call goes through after two rings. "Hello?" Kim said for the other line, "Is everything ok, Ter?"

Porchay takes a deep breath before he speaks. "Is the building yours too?"

Kim laughs. LAUGHS. The audacity of this asshole.

"Mh," he hums his agreement. "Been digging around, My Love?"

My Love?

That's new.

And fuck his heart did skip a beat at that. Especially when he used that deep low voice on him.

"Well, you know me. I'm always a safety first, safety always, kind of person."

Kim hums again. It seems he is drinking something, judging from the background sound. He seems ... Relax.

Then it dawns on Chay. "You did this on purpose, didn't you?"

"What?" Porchay can picture Kim's smiles when he says this. Fuck that guy!

"You want me to find out!"

"Well, I just want you to realize that I am a responsible mate and I will do anything to make sure you graduate on time."

He now dares to throw what Chay's said back to his face!

"I still can ask Porsche to get me a job, you know." It's true. Porsche had offered a job for him. Not just as an intern. He doesn't have to work for real. Porsche's words.

"But you wouldn't. Your pride won't let you do it."

It irks Porchay just how good Kim knows about him in a short period.

But still, he denies, "You don't know me well enough."

Kim laughs again. This time it irritates Chay. He ends the conversation without saying anything again.

Asshole.

Rain looks strangely void of emotions and that scares Chay more than when he is overreacting. Rain clearly heard his and Kim's conversation. "What's wrong?" he asks gently.

Rain shakes his head. "It's just that ... He never changes."

He's talking about Phayu. Their history together is longer than Kim and Porchay.

"One time, I got a bad grade because I was sick when the test happened but didn't say anything because I was afraid that I would miss the test if I stayed at home. Phayu begged the teacher to give me another test when I was well enough. He didn't say anything to me. I knew it when a friend of mine said that I was so lucky to have Phayu. That he would do just about anything for me. But ... What he did, even though he meant well, sometimes just made me feel that I'm not good enough to fight my own battle."

Rain sighs and walks quietly to the building entrance and Chay follows just as silently. He doesn't know what to say to comfort Rain so he just pats his back. Rain offers him a small smile.
Two guys come running to them as soon as they step into the building.

"Khun Porchay?" "Khun Rain?" They both ask at the same time. Porchay and Rain nod together in confusion. "We were just informed by Khun Kim and Khun Phayu just now, so we are sorry if we couldn't welcome you more properly."

Porchay curses Kim inside his head. But he knows better than to say it out loud. While Rain... Rain still stares at the men in confusion.

So... Because Porchay called him and uncovered whatever scheme Kim and Phayu plotted regarding their internships, they both decided to just go with a bang. Splendid.

"And you are ...?" Rain carefully asked.

"Oh," the man on the right smiles at Rain. A very sweet business-minded ass-licking kind of smile. "My name is Asnee Boonmee. I am the general manager of Urban Architects. I will be the one who supervises you, Khun Rain."

"Phi Phayu wants you, a general manager, to supervise me, an intern?" Rain spells it out just to make sure.

The man slightly gulps, not expecting Rain to question this. After a thought he says, "I'm not privileged to tell you this, Khun. I was assigned and does accordingly."

That's a very political way to answer a question. Phayu must be a one scary boss, Porchay thinks.

His eyes then drifted to the man next to Asnee, who didn't say anything and merely nodded with a polite smile. The man is probably in his thirties, good-looking, smells good, and an alpha who is more likely to be stubborn than not, but very competent at what he does. "GM Suwannarat," someone comes running towards them, "The meeting is about to start, Sir!"

"Hold it for half an hour," the man cooly says. "This is more important. Right this way, Khun," he politely stirs Chay to the direction of an elevator, while Rain follows Asnee to the other direction.

They stay silent in the elevator. Porchay listens as the man from before (Mr. Suwannarat's secretary, Chay assumes) gives the man a rundown for the day. The secretary has glanced at Porchay more than three times now. Mr. Suwannarat is polite enough to act disinterested.

They arrive in a room with six people in it. They all stand to attention when they see Mr. Suwannarat enters the room. A man even walks closer in a hurry. "Good morning, Sir," he says with a smile. "Is there anything I can do?"

"Yes. This is Khun Pichaya Kittisawasd, the one I talked about with you yesterday." Porchay watches as the man's eyes grow larger and he bows politely to Chay. It's making him feel discomfort. He's an intern, for God's sake! He shouldn't be making people above his level to bow down. "Show him his desk and act accordingly."

"Yes, Khun." The man shows Porchay where to sit. It's at the corner near the window. It's secluded enough that no one will know whether he is doing his job or playing games. Maybe that's the purpose. Mr. Suwannarat follows them and stands by to look at Porchay's desk closely. "If you need anything or seeking guidance or two about your job, feel free to call me." He hands him a card.

Yeah, right. Like he's just going to call a GM for anything.

But Porchay just nods to get it over with. Mr. Suwannarat is also nodding before he leaves. The whole room is sighing in relief as he walks through the door.

Porchay looks at the card. It's an elegant ivory-colored card with gold letters on it.

Kamon Suwannarat, General Manager.

***

On Rain's part, it's no better. In fact, the firm is chaotic and loose enough that they all greet him with enthusiasm when they learn he gets in because of Phayu and Phayu personally insisted that they treat him well.

Rain feels exhausted just by the number of people who ask him what his relationship is with Phayu and how well Rain knows him. He tries to dodge people knowing that Phayu and Rain are mates by saying that he and Phayu are childhood friends. That they grew up together in the same place.

It's not a lie. So it's ok.

So he is now slumping in his chair while waiting for someone to give him the first work. Mr. Asnee said that he would sort the work for Rain first.

A woman, Apple, approaches him while giggling. "Ran out of your energy already?"

Rain nods. "People here are so ... enthusiastic!"

Apple laughs openly now. "You can't fault them. They worship the ground that Khun Phayu walks on. Can't say they overreacted on that either. The guy is handsome enough to be a model, smart enough to be a professor, and rich enough to take you and your whole big family on a vacation abroad every other week."

Rain doesn't know how to react to that, but something that similar to pride grows in his heart.

"Is he here often?" Rain asks carefully.

"Not really, unless he is working on an important project personally. Otherwise, he only shows up once a week or even less. He's a busy guy."

A smile blooms on Rain's face. That's a good thing. "Oh!" he cheerfully says. Asnee pops out and delivers the first job for Rain. Rain listens to the guy's explanation carefully and attentively, and doesn't want to miss anything. Then he gets to work with full concentration as his works consist of lines that can't be wrong even for a millimeter.

He even misses when the room is chaotic again when someone enters. He only takes his mind off his work when someone brushes his hair. He looks up and sees the smiling Phayu.

"I have been calling you for some time now. Let's go!"

Rain frowns, not exactly following. "Where to?"

"Lunch."

Rain looks at the clock. It's still 11.p
00 a.m. "I still have work to do."

Phayu chuckles and starts grabbing Rain's handphone and arm, making the younger stand up. "Work can wait, I can't."

***