"Hurry up, Niran," said Chak.  

We walked towards the car, traveling in silence. I secretly observed him. To me, he had always been as unreachable as an ice mountain, whose peak I wanted to reach but never knew how.  

Chak dropped me off at the bus stop. He just nodded and drove off. Slowly, I walked towards the company.  

When I arrived at my desk, I greeted my coworkers. We greeted Chak as he passed by and entered his office without a word.  

I sat down and started working. At 9:55, I received a message from Taeng: "I'm at the company."  

I immediately went to get him. When I saw him, I waved. "Sorry, Taeng, you're having trouble because of me," I said as we met.  

"Don't worry, Niran," Taeng replied. "I can't wait to see the Ice Man," he joked.  

I smiled, but it was more of a sour smile than a laugh.  

When we got to Chak's office, I knocked. When he allowed me to enter, I stepped in with Taeng.  

Chak was sitting behind his desk, looking at us with an icy stare.  

"Sit," he said coldly, with a slight gesture indicating we should sit.  

I felt the atmosphere become heavier with tension.  

Chak spoke first in a cold voice: "You probably know why you're here, right, Taeng?"  

Taeng confidently replied, "I know why I'm here. You heard our conversation with Niran, and you want to know why Niran trusts me so much."  

Chak looked at him coldly. "Tell me, why does Niran trust you with so many things?"  

Taeng spoke calmly. "Niran and I have been friends since high school. We trust each other, talk about all our problems. I know him so well that I could say I know his deepest secrets. And I can claim that no one knows him as well as I do."  

Chak looked at me with his icy gaze. "What has Niran told you about me? I'm interested in everything," he said, his voice unnaturally cold.  

I saw Taeng glance at me with a slightly frightened look. I just nodded slightly, telling him it was fine.  

Taeng then continued: "He told me you're cold, arrogant, independent. That when he looks at you, it's best to run, because you're like an ice bomb that could explode at any moment. He said he hopes you won't be looking over his fingers r when he cooks, because he doesn't know how to cook. On the other hand, he wants to be near you because he knows he can rely on you. And he calls you the Ice Man."  

I didn't know Niran thought so much about me, and that he had a nickname for me, Chak said and looked at me with a cold stare. "I just want..."  

Before I finished my sentence, he suddenly turned to Taeng and coldly said, "Thanks for telling me all this. Now you can go. Niran, escort him out and come back to me."  

"Understood, sir," I said, and left with Taeng.  

"Sorry, I had to say that. I don't want to ruin what you two have," Taeng told me as we were in the elevator.  

"You did the right thing," I replied. "bye."  

When I stepped out of the elevator and returned to the office, I heard my heart pounding in my chest. The tension that hung in the air almost suffocated me. I didn't know whether I was hungry for his words or his actions, but I knew I was at a crossroads, preparing for something I wouldn't be able to easily undo.  

I reached Chak's office. I knocked and entered. He was standing by the window, looking out, his arms crossed over his chest.

"I see you and Taeng are real friends," he said, without turning around. "I'm giving you permission to tell him alone what you hear and what's going on. But warn him – everything you tell him must stay between the two of you."

"Understood, sir," I replied softly.

He turned to face me. His voice was softer this time, almost... personal.

"From now on, I want to know everything. Everything you're going through. I want to be someone you can rely on. Don't be afraid."

I swallowed and gathered my courage. "And when it's hard for you, I want you to come to me too. Even if it's in the middle of the night."

For a brief moment, the corners of his lips twitched, but he quickly became serious again. "Go back to work and stay reachable. When I text you, wait me by the car."

"Understood," I nodded and turned toward the exit.

Two hours later, I received a message: Be at the car in 10 minutes.nI was about to reply okay when, at that moment, his office door opened. He glanced at me briefly, and I gave him a small nod.

A few minutes later, I was already in front of the car. Chak was sitting in the driver's seat, opened the door, and silently gestured for me to get in. I sat down, and we drove off in silence. We didn't say anything, but the tension was pleasant. It felt… familiar.

When we arrived at his house, I automatically headed for the kitchen. Chak quietly followed me.

"We'll cook pad kra pao ," he said. "You'll be in charge of the vegetables and salad, I'll handle the meat and rice."

"Understood," I nodded and washed my hands.

We started chopping and preparing the ingredients. Sometimes our eyes met, and we quickly looked away. In the background, some Thai instrumental music played.

I watched him – how confidently he moved around the kitchen, how calmly he sliced the beef, as if he did this every day. He was completely in his element. And I... I was mesmerized.

One second of inattention – and I cut myself. "Ow!" I yelped as the knife sliced into my finger. Blood immediately started to flow.

Chak turned around instantly. He quickly took my hand and put it under cold water.

"Wait here," he said in a low, yet firm voice. He hurried out of the kitchen.

He returned with the first aid kit, gently wiped my finger, disinfected it, and carefully applied a bandage. For a moment, we just stared at each other. I looked into his eyes and whispered, "Thank you."

I was about to turn away, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him. Our bodies met. His embrace was warm, safe.

"I want one hug every day," he said quietly.

I smiled. "As you wish."

After a few moments, he slowly let me go and said in a serious tone, "Sit down. Watch me while I cook."

I obeyed. I sat down at the kitchen counter and watched him. His glances would occasionally drift toward me, and sometimes he gave a small smile. And for the first time in a long while, I felt something... I couldn't put into words.

Something that was only ours.