The vintage restaurant was bathed in an intensely warm atmosphere. The surrounding walls were adorned with beige wallpaper featuring a dreamy, light floral pattern. The soft, warm-white lighting inside the establishment created a relaxed and intimate feeling.

Every corner of the restaurant was embellished with carefully curated decorative items: from the pastel-colored dried flower baskets hanging delicately from the ceiling, to the antique clock and vintage picture frames perfectly arranged on display.

Soft jazz music mingled gently with the low murmur of conversation and laughter from the patrons—mostly adults and working professionals who loved photography and sought a place to unwind.

The five women entered the establishment with radiant expressions and settled at a five-seater table by the window. As they sank into their seats, they looked like five colorful blossoms emerging from a garden.

May and Tonn-Aor were particularly animated, while Gunny and Ae were no less bright and cheerful. Ploy-Sai, who usually maintained a reserved composure, also allowed a vivid smile to bloom.

The casual comfort of the restaurant made everyone feel at ease. Laughter and soft conversation intertwined with the gentle jazz music playing in the background.

“I keep thinking about how glorious my life will be once I get promoted to Team Leader,” May confided, detailing her professional ambition before slowly leaning back against the chair

Tonn-Aor, sitting across from her, rested her chin on her hand and nodded repeatedly in agreement. “I want to be promoted to a head position too. But even if I don’t become the head, my current role is already demanding as much as one. The pressure, the client feedback, and all the troubleshooting—it all lands right on me alone.”

Tonn-Aor sighed slowly. Though she appeared to be the most confident in the group, the mounting work concerns were clearly weighing heavily on her as well.

Gunny nodded, taking in everyone’s thoughts. She felt the same suffocation in her own workplace. Although her ultimate career ambition was to ascend to Department Manager, she felt her happiness slowly draining away. It was a stark contrast to when she first graduated, when she had an insatiable desire to learn. But as the years dragged on, and she approached the age of twenty-seven, she found herself strangely burnt out.

While listening to the conversation about daily life and work, Gunny’s eyes suddenly caught sight of a man passing their table, accompanied by a beautiful, fair-skinned woman in a strikingly provocative short red dress.

“May! Look over there for a second. Does that man look familiar to you too?” Gunny urgently whispered, nudging her friend’s small arm.

May craned her neck, her round eyes wide with curiosity, before they suddenly widened further as she clearly saw the impassive face of the man who had crashed into Gunny earlier that evening.

“That’s him, exactly! I remember him perfectly!” May shrieked in a high-pitched voice, quickly turning to meet the eyes of her other friends, who were all staring at the man as one.

“You mean the guy who hit Gunny?” Ae followed up immediately, her question accompanied by the puzzled gazes of Tonn-Aor and Ploy-Sai.

“Yes! The one who caused Gunny’s sprained ankle and didn’t even glance back,” May said, her voice rising and falling dramatically as she glared at the young man and the stunning, sexy woman he was escorting to a table in the innermost section of the restaurant.

“Ah, so this is him,” Tonn-Aor said, craning her neck to look. She then narrowed her eyes, a mischievous plan immediately forming in her mind.

She wasn't just someone who enjoyed strategizing; she was always the group's main problem-solver. Whenever her friends were in trouble, she was the first to step up and act as their shield.

“Would you like me to go handle it for you?” Tonn-Aor stood up straight, crossing her arms confidently.

The eyes of all her friends instantly fixed on her in surprise. Gunny blinked, looking back and forth between the man and Tonn-Aor.

“It’s alright. I don’t want to bother with a person like that anymore,” Gunny replied, shaking her head.

The other friends sighed at Gunny’s gentle heart, but May wore a satisfied smirk. She knew well that Tonn-Aor was the group’s representative when facing injustice. May was often the first to encourage Tonn-Aor to act, and this time was no different.

“The opportunity is right here. How can we let it go so easily?” May narrowed her eyes, acting as if she were watching a film approach its thrilling climax.

“Exactly! That guy doesn’t look like someone who deserves forgiveness anyway,” Tonn-Aor said, flashing a wide, almost wicked smile.

“Are you sure about this?” Gunny asked, a note of hesitation in her voice.

But Tonn-Aor simply lifted her chin and waved a dismissive hand with utter confidence. “We’re doing it! I’m genuinely curious to see if he’ll exhibit his jerk-like behavior even when he’s with his beautiful girlfriend.”

Tonn-Aor bared her teeth in a grin and beckoned for her friends to get ready.

Tonn-Aor marched forward with absolute confidence.

Her short, sleek, vibrant sleeveless dress, which rose above the knee, was so alluring that it immediately drew the unwavering gaze of the young men at the neighboring tables. Her light orange lips and sharp, beautiful face radiated resolve, indicating she was ready to face any situation.

She peeled off her sheer, flowing cover-up and handed it to Ae, who quickly reached out to receive it, before Tonn-Aor began scouting the area with a sharp glance.

Tonn-Aor smiled widely, fixing her gaze on the man before them with a calculated look. Meanwhile, Gunny strained to get a full view of him, noting a man with a well-defined, gentle face. He had kind, friendly, almond-shaped eyes and a perfectly sculpted, prominent nose. His most memorable feature was his bright smile, especially the dimples that appeared when he laughed. His hair was meticulously styled to complement his face, giving him a sophisticated air. Tall and slender in a stylish, light blue dress shirt, he possessed the dazzling polish of a seasoned lover with endless tricks up his sleeve.

He was currently sitting with his arm draped over the lovely shoulder of the beautiful woman in the fiery red short dress, whose hand was sliding up his arm in a heated caress. Tonn-Aor assessed the entire situation with a keen eye; they looked less like a committed couple and more like a casual fling.

With assured elegance, Tonn-Aor glided straight toward them, confidently swaying her hips, and inserted herself directly between the pair.

“I apologize for the interruption,” Tonn-Aor said, leaning in between them.

The man looked up, meeting the gaze of the stunning woman whose face was now tilted close to his own. Her beautifully curled hair fell loose, carrying a floral fragrance that immediately captured his attention, making it impossible for him to look away.

It was in that precise moment that her lipstick case slipped from her fingers, landing right in the center of his lap. The man flinched and quickly looked down, while Tonn-Aor leaned closer and offered a sweet smile.

“I seem to have dropped my lipstick right on to your leg,” she announced, slowly reaching to retrieve the lipstick from his lap. The woman in the red dress glared at her with visible annoyance, while the young man merely offered a slight smirk and a subtly raised eyebrow.

Tonn-Aor picked up the lipstick case and winked at him.

“That’s a shame. Has your lipstick been damaged, madam?” he asked, his eyes sweeping over her figure before stopping momentarily on her ample chest. He then returned the wink, hinting at a certain shared understanding.

Tonn-Aor responded with a wide, provocative smile, revealing her peach-colored lips as she sensually flipped her hair. “Nothing was damaged. Luckily, I caught it in time.” She said, deliberately placing her slender hand on his thigh and giving him a sweet, lingering smile.

“Ah, I’m relieved then. Say... have we met before?” the man asked in a deep, resonant voice.

His date glared fiercely at Tonn-Aor, having noticed his sudden interest in another woman.

“Are you curious to know if we have?” Tonn-Aor replied, subtly glancing at the other woman, who was now biting her lip in fury.

“But as far as I’m concerned, you are a man who will be in my memory forever,” Tonn-Aor whispered, lowering her voice and seductively narrowing her eyes.

The man couldn't tear his gaze away from her. He slowly reached out and delicately touched the ends of her hair. “Am I to assume I was once very close to you, then?” he asked in a soft, smooth voice, his eyes gleaming.

“Shall we try to revisit the past together?” Tonn-Aor offered a sweet smile and winked.

The man chuckled softly in his throat before winking back. “I’d like that very much.”

The dashing man promptly pulled away from the woman in the red dress and took Tonn-Aor’s hand—she was already leaning in toward him as if anticipating his touch.

“I’m Kawin,” Kawin introduced himself with the seasoned air of a skillful flirt.

Watching from a distance, Gunny curled her lip into a tight smirk and crossed her arms, utterly disgusted by the man’s blatant audacity.

Upon hearing that, the woman in the red dress sprang up from her chair, stomping her foot loudly in fury, causing every eye in the restaurant to turn toward their table.

“Kawin! Are you seriously talking to another woman right in front of me?!” Nisa, his date, immediately inserted herself between them.

Kawin, however, simply turned and tried to gently place his hand on the waist of Tonn-Aor, who willingly leaned into his embrace.

“Your girlfriend seems upset,” Tonn-Aor teased Nisa, winking playfully at the woman who was baring her teeth like an enraged ogre.

“I don’t have a girlfriend,” he whispered back.

Tonn-Aor laughed softly, covering her mouth with her hand, and cast a glance at Nisa, who looked ready to erupt at any moment.

“Oh my! You’re single? What luck!” Tonn-Aor scoffed, clasping his hand in return.

“Shall we continue this somewhere else?” Kawin, the handsome man in the guise of a cunning rogue, propositioned Tonn-Aor without preamble.

Tonn-Aor smiled sweetly and slowly drew her finger across his muscular arm. “And if you do that, won’t that woman dump you right here?” she countered.

Her eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky.

Kawin chuckled softly. "I don't have to worry about being dumped, do I? Since I already have you." He pulled her closer by the waist, his eyes sparkling and challenging. His intent was clear, and he was certain she desired the same.

"I wonder if a rogue tiger like you might end up becoming a little kitten tonight," Tonn-Aor challenged, her voice seductively low. She deliberately leaned in to whisper softly near his ear, causing Kawin to feel her hot breath.

"I enjoy a good challenge," Kawin replied, gently holding her face so their eyes met again. "But a little kitten like you... can you handle it?" he chuckled deep in his throat and slowly moved his face closer to hers.

"Kawin! Are you humiliating me?!" Nisa shrieked, her voice loud enough to make everyone in the restaurant turn, especially the group of young men at the next table who had been keenly following the drama from the start.

"I'm postponing our date, Nisa," Kawin informed Nisa, as Tonn-Aor smiled, pleased with the turn of events.

"You can't do this to me!" Nisa cried out, losing all composure.

"Thank you. You're the absolute sweetest," Tonn-Aor said, flashing a wide, captivating smile.

The young man's eyes gleamed as he intently scrutinized every inch of the alluring woman who had just provoked him.

"Where shall we go next?" he suggested, unrelenting.

"You are utterly disgusting!" The woman in the fiery red dress snapped, her patience finally gone. She snatched up a glass of water and violently splashed it across his face, leaving him thoroughly soaked. The young man closed his eyes, accepting the blow impassively, allowing her to vent her fury before she ran out in a rage.

Yet, he hadn't lost his focus on Tonn-Aor at all.

"Are you okay?" Tonn-Aor asked, her eyes widening at the sight of the drenched man.

But he merely shook his head, pulling out a handkerchief to dab his face lightly. "I'm fine. I'm used to it. About us..." He reached out to drape his arm around her shoulder.

Tonn-Aor, however, gave a malicious smirk and swiftly brushed his hand away. Kawin watched, confused by her sudden, sharp change in demeanor.

"I apologize," Tonn-Aor said, stepping back to stand with her arms crossed. She then gave him a final, wicked smile.

"For a man like you, who hurts others without a second thought, no one will ever be truly sincere with you. I'm sorry to say I'm bored with you now." She delivered the scathing retort, accompanied by a broad grin.

Kawin put his hand on his hip and laughed to himself, realizing he had been thoroughly played by a cunning vixen. "Ah! This must be revenge then. Does that mean I broke your heart before?" he challenged, meeting her gaze.

"Don't worry about it. Just know that we met in this very moment, and that’s enough. It was nice meeting you, and I wish to un-meet you at the same time. Good day," Tonn-Aor finished.

Tonn-Aor spun away confidently, meeting the gaze of a man at a nearby table who had been watching her with a strange intensity. She then led her three girlfriends back toward their own table, leaving only the quiet stares of the restaurant patrons and Kawin, who bared his teeth in a challenging grin as he watched Tonn-Aor go, his gaze sweeping over her friends, and finally catching the sight of Gunny, the sweet-looking girl who was trailing close behind.