It was past midnight, but Rak wasn't even close to sleeping.
Bangkok outside their rented apartment window, was still awake — cars, street vendors, stray dogs barking somewhere below.
Art was knocked out on the couch, one arm hanging off the side, snoring like he owned the room.
Rak's mind was far from rest.
His chest felt heavy… like every breath carried Krit's name.
Finally, unable to hold anymore, he reached for his phone.
The local Thai SIM card still felt strange in his hand.
He scrolled through the contacts, stopped at one name — Khun Chariya.
His mother's younger sister. His last piece of home.
He hesitated for a second, then pressed call.
---
Chariya (answering softly):
> " Call from Thailand? ...Hello!! Who—?"
For a moment, Rak couldn't speak. His throat tightened.
> "Aunty… it's me. Rak."
There was a beat of silence on the other end.
Then, her voice — calm, motherly, and gentle.
Aunty chariya:
" Rak? Rak, my dear boy, are you alright? You sound so… broken."
> " what happened? You never call like this unless something's wrong. And why are you in Thailand? Your secretary told me that you're on a business trip to Singapore."
Anurak:
> "I… I didn't mean to worry you, aunty. I just—"
(his voice cracks) "Something happened. I met with an accident. Someone… died because of me."
His eyes burned. For the first time in years, his voice cracked.
> "Aunty… I— I hit someone with my car in Switzerland. His name was… Krit, the man I met that award night. He's gone."
He told her everything.
The accident.
Krit's dying words. His guilt. His visit to Thailand.
The rings.
Kawin shutting him out every time he tried to help.
How he met Krit's mother — Khun Ratri, who reminded him of his own mother.
Anurak (quietly):
> "She didn't say a word, Aunty. Just looked at me… and I felt like I was sixteen again, watching everything slip away."
Aunty Chariya stayed quiet for a moment, letting him breathe.
Aunty Chariya:
> "You've been carrying too much alone, Rak. But listen… don't run from this. If you want to do something for that family — do it sincerely."
Anurak swallowed.
Rak:
> "I want to make everything right , aunty. But I don't even know how. Kawin — Krit's partner — he won't let me help. He hates the idea of me being involved."
Aunty Chariya:
Rak… sometimes when you can't change the past, you can only pay respect to it by building something new."
Anurak:
> "But how, aunty? He won't even listen."
Khun Chariya:
> "Then don't speak to his ears, speak to his heart."
"If he doesn't trust your words, show him through your actions. Work for him quietly — even if it means starting from the bottom."
Anurak:
> "You mean… without telling him who I really am?"
Khun Chariya:
> "Exactly. him.Don't go as Anurak the CEO. Go as Rak — the man who understands loss. That's your strength."
> "Find a way to stand beside him, not above him. "
He nodded, wiping his eyes.
> "Aunty… will you take care of the company while I'm here? I might not come back soon."
Aunty Chariya:
> "Of course. Don't worry about business now. Just… follow your heart, Rak. You've always had a good one. Just don't disappear on me again."
Rak closed his eyes.
For the first time since the accident, he could breathe.
---
Late Night— Krit's House
The air feels heavy after dinner. The house that once echoed with laughter now stays quiet — just the sound of the clock ticking and soft whispers between family members.
Beam sits cross-legged on the couch, still sulking. Kawin is silent beside him, arms folded, while Khun Somchai (grandfather) sits between them, listening with calm eyes.
Ratri, sits in her wheelchair , still quiet in her corner, stares blankly ahead
Beam pouting slightly,
" Grandpa, I really don't understand P'Win, na. That khun Anurak seems like a good guy. He came all the way from Switzerland just to help, but P'Win refused him again. So heartless jing jing."
Kawin sighs, rubbing his forehead.
> "Beam, it's not about heartless. I just don't want outsiders to get tangled in this mess. Especially someone we barely know."
Beam leans on the table, half teasing but serious.
> "But P'Win, you said yourself — no one's helping. At least khun Anurak wants to help. He came all the way from Switzerland, na! Krit trusted him!"
> " Mai dii rao khon dii mae? We shouldn't push away good people, right? Even uncle Thira said he is sincere person."
Kawin frowns.
> "Beam, you don't understand. Having him here means more responsibility, more risk. If things get worse, who's gonna take care of him? I don't have time to babysit him."
Beam hesitated, "But....."
Kawin ' s tone sharpens a bit,
"Beam, enough. This isn't about trust; it's about survival. We barely keeping the company alive.
"Win"… grandpa Somchai said gently,
> "sometimes, it's not about trust or risk. Sometimes it's about faith. Don't push people away just because you're afraid."
Grandpa Somchai continued softly,
> "If this young man came here with good intentions… maybe it's worth taking a second chance. Let him prove it. If it doesn't work, you can still kick him out, easy.
Kawin pressed his lips together. His eyes flicked toward the floor, then said quietly,
> "Even if I wanted to… it's too late. I already refused him. After that, he won't come back."
Beam grumbling,
> "You underestimate him, P'Win. He doesn't look like someone who gives up easily."
The old man just sighs and looks toward the window.
> "If fate wants him to come back, he will."
-----
Next Morning Chansiri Techworks Office:
Kawin reached the office early like always. The hallway smelled like dust and old printer ink. He pushed open the glass door and froze halfway in.
Rak was already inside.
He stood by the desk with two iced coffees, looking way too calm for someone who got rejected yesterday.
Rak lifted one cup a little.
"Morning."
Kawin stared at him, deadpan.
"You're back. Seriously?"
Rak gave a small shrug, like this was nothing.
"Yeah. What, you thought I'd cry and fly back to Switzerland? No way. That's embarrassing."
Kawin let out a breath, not quite a sigh, not quite amusement.
"You really don't know how to quit, do you?"
Rak walked over and placed the drink near him.
"When it matters? No. Also, I didn't know your order, so I got the one I like. If it sucks, just pretend it doesn't."
Kawin didn't thank him, but he also didn't push it away. Progress. Maybe.
The office was too quiet. The kind of quiet that buzzes in your ears. Empty desks. Old calendars still showing last month. The room was filled with an awkward silence.
Then suddenly the landline phone rang.
That ugly old phone with the yellowing buttons.
Anurak glanced at Kawin and then stood up to pick up the call.
Kawin immediately rubbed his temples.
"Just ignore it. Probably the bank again."
Rak looked at him, then just… picked it up anyway.
Kawin blinked.
" Khun Anurak — I literally just—"
Rak already had the receiver to his ear.
"Chansiri Techworks, good morning."
He listened for a few moments, expression shifting from neutral to sharply focused.
"Yes, I understand. The tender for the solar panel supply. Deadline Friday. We'll prepare the documents. Thank you."
He hung up gently.
Kawin stared like someone just reinstalled his brain incorrectly.
"…That wasn't the bank?"
Rak shook his head a little, voice calm.
"No. It was a private firm asking if this company is still alive enough to bid. What do you say khun Win?"
Kawin let out a humorless laugh.
"Even if we send the tender, we can't produce. We have no staff. No budget. Literally zero stability. This place is one sneeze away from collapsing."
Rak didn't argue. He just listened, hands in his pockets.
Kawin's voice softened, tired in a way that didn't come from this week or last, but from everything that happened before.
"I know you're trying to help. I do. But sometimes trying makes things worse. And I can't afford another failure. Not after him."
Rak glanced at the empty chairs again.
Names. Memories. People who ran.
He looked back at Kawin, steady and quiet.
Kawin shook his head, almost pleading this time.
"Don't send the tender. Just… drop it. This company has already reached its last page."
Rak didn't speak.
But the look in his eyes said something very clearly:
I already decided I'm not leaving..