The restaurant was buzzing with the familiar clatter of plates and chatter of satisfied customers. Karan moved with precision, plating dishes as if orchestrating a symphony, while Nova and Lusi ensured that every corner ran smoothly.
Amid the warmth and routine, the front door chimed, drawing Karan's attention. A casually dressed young man stepped inside — effortlessly magnetic, calm, and unmistakably **Arthit Sakda**.
Arthit's eyes scanned the restaurant, lingering on Karan as he worked. "Karan," he said softly, almost hesitant, trying to catch his attention as he approached the counter.
But Karan, completely absorbed in the meticulous arrangement of sauces and garnishes, **didn't notice him**.
Arthit's lips twitched in a bittersweet smile. "You… really don't even see me anymore, do you?" he muttered under his breath.
He hovered near the counter, trying to strike up a conversation. "The last time we met, the gala… I thought…" His voice trailed as Karan continued plating, humming softly, oblivious.
Arthit felt a twinge of sadness. He had imagined this moment differently — a casual, lighthearted exchange, maybe a spark reignited. Instead, he was invisible, a ghost in Karan's world.
Finally, he sighed, stepping back. "Maybe… I shouldn't have come," he murmured. He lingered just a few more seconds, watching Karan's concentration and passion, then quietly left the restaurant, leaving behind **a trail of unspoken words and frustrated longing**.
---
Nightfall — Collision on the Street
Hours later, Karan walked home, his mind replaying the evening's dishes, the new dessert trial, and the growing workload. The city streets were quiet, the air crisp, the lamplight casting long shadows.
"Long day," a voice said from the shadows.
Karan froze. His pulse jumped. "Arthit…" His voice was sharp, surprised.
Arthit stepped into the light, calm and intense. "You didn't notice me at the restaurant," he said softly, but there was an unmistakable hurt in his tone. "Didn't even look at me once."
"I… I was busy," Karan said, a little defensively, gripping his bag tighter. "I had things to do. Orders, experiments…"
Arthit's gaze softened, but the intensity didn't waver. He stepped closer, **closing the space between them**. "Busy… or avoiding me?"
Karan's throat went dry. "I'm not avoiding—"
Before he could finish, Arthit leaned in, pressing his lips against Karan's in a sudden, bold kiss. Shocked, Karan **struggled**, pushing back instinctively, heart racing, mind spinning.
"Arthit! What—"
"Shhh…" Arthit whispered, cupping Karan's face. "I need you to listen. Just for a moment."
Karan's hands flailed slightly, but there was **an undeniable magnetism**, a pull he couldn't ignore. Yet his instincts screamed **resist**.
---
The Confession
Arthit's voice lowered, urgent, sincere. "Karan… I didn't love her. Arshiya… this engagement… it's only for business. Strategy, perception, influence. Nothing more."
Karan froze, eyes wide, chest heaving. "What… what are you saying?"
"I'm saying I never wanted this," Arthit continued, gripping Karan's shoulders lightly. "I wanted… you. All of this… me, my future, the empire — it doesn't matter if I can't have you in my life."
Karan's mind spun. The man before him — so composed, commanding, untouchable — **was vulnerable for him**. And yet… Karan shook his head, stepping back, voice trembling.
"No, Arthit. You're… complicated. Your life, your plans… you can't just—"
"I can," Arthit interrupted, eyes blazing. "I've chosen to tell you the truth. I'm telling you now because I can't keep pretending. I… want you."
Karan's heart ached, torn between desire, reason, and morality. "But… what about Arshiya?"
"Nothing," Arthit said, voice fierce. "Nothing exists between us. She's a part of the plan, not my heart. I'm telling you this so you know — **there's no obstacle except your hesitation**."
Karan's hands shook, gripping his bag. "I can't… I can't be a part of your… world. I have my path, my dreams. I can't… get involved with… this… with you."
Arthit's eyes darkened with frustration, mixed with longing. "Karan, listen… this isn't just about me. It's about us. I can make it work — I'll make it work — if you just… trust me."
Karan shook his head violently, stepping back again. "No! I… I won't interfere in your life. I… I have to focus on my own dreams. On the restaurant, my career, my future. You… you go live your life your way. I'll… I'll live mine."
Arthit's lips pressed into a hard line, breathing slightly heavier than usual. His hand reached out, but Karan turned sharply and began walking, the tension thick between them.
---
Aftermath — Silence and Frustration
Arthit watched him go, jaw tight, eyes burning with frustration and regret. He wanted to call him back, to hold him, to insist that they could defy fate together. But he also knew **Karan's resolve was ironclad**.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath. "Why do you make me feel like this?"
Karan's mind raced as he walked home. His chest hurt, a strange mix of longing, anger, and determination. He remembered the kiss — brief, explosive, and yet **a glimpse into a world he could never fully enter**.
He shook his head, tears threatening to fall. "No. Focus. Career. Dreams. Restaurant. College. That's my life. Not… him."
---
Late Night Reflections
Arthit returned to his apartment, pacing. Arshiya's image, polished and poised from the magazine photoshoot earlier in the month, flashed through his mind. The **perfect life they were building as a business power couple** should have been enough. But it wasn't.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw **Karan's face, the fire in his eyes, the passion in his hands, the warmth of his laughter**. He had tasted control, strategy, influence — but Karan had shown him unpredictability, freedom, and a spark that couldn't be calculated.
"I can't let him go," Arthit whispered to himself. "Not yet. Not like this."
Meanwhile, Karan sat on the rooftop of his apartment building, the city lights reflecting in his eyes. He wrapped his arms around his knees, heart pounding from the night's encounter.
"I can't," he muttered. "Not yet. Not him. I have to… I have to focus. Dreams first. Nothing else."
And yet, as he looked out at the city, a **small, dangerous part of him** still imagined Arthit's face, the kiss, the intensity, the pull — and he wondered if one day, **their worlds would collide again**.
---
The Lingering Spark
Neither of them slept well that night. Both replayed the encounter — the kiss, the confession, the tension, the defiance — over and over in their minds.
Karan repeated to himself: **career first, ambition first, no distractions**.
Arthit repeated: **I will make him see… I will make him mine.**
Both had chosen distance, responsibility, and practicality… but neither could erase the **magnetic pull, the fire, the sparks** that had ignited between them.
The collision had happened. The confession had been made. And though Karan had walked away, and Arthit had left frustrated, the **battle of desire, power, and heart** had only just begun.
---
End of Chapter 7 — Collision in the Night