Chapter 15 — The Way He Watches
1384 Words
The Aiyarak family rarely allowed outsiders into their private space for long.
A serious issue honestly.
People misunderstood them constantly.
Most assumed the family acted warm because they were naturally friendly.
That wasn’t completely true.
The Aiyarak family simply learned how to smile politely while staying emotionally guarded underneath.
A dangerous skill honestly.
Especially after becoming one of the wealthiest and most influential families in Bangkok.
Because wealth attracted attention.
Connections attracted danger.
And after their parents passed away years ago—
the brothers became even more protective of one another.
Particularly Tharin.
A terrifying family honestly.
Which was exactly why—
despite the calm atmosphere inside the mansion—
everyone still quietly watched Aran.
Not aggressively.
Not suspiciously.
Just carefully.
The same way they observed anyone who came too close to people they loved.
A serious issue.
Meanwhile—
inside the massive living room—
warm lighting reflected softly across polished wooden floors while low instrumental music played faintly from hidden speakers nearby.
The dinner dishes had already disappeared.
Now only:
* tea cups,
* sliced fruit,
* desserts,
* and half-finished drinks remained scattered across the large coffee table between the couches.
Outside the tall windows, the private gardens remained peaceful beneath dim pathway lights surrounding the estate.
And somehow—
despite the comfortable atmosphere—
Tharin still felt emotionally unstable.
A COMPLETE disaster honestly.
Because currently—
Aran Rattanakosin sat only a few feet away while calmly speaking with his brothers like he belonged here naturally.
Psychotic behavior honestly.
Meanwhile—
Praew still looked spiritually overwhelmed after earlier conversations.
Reasonable honestly.
Because apparently—
Aran’s honesty genuinely affected him.
A terrifying achievement.
Then dramatically—
Praew leaned forward while holding a fork suspiciously.
A dangerous sign honestly.
Because every time Praew held utensils dramatically—
someone suffered emotionally afterward.
A serious issue.
Praew: “I still don’t understand something.”
Silence.
Then immediately—
Praew: “Why Rin specifically?”
Real silence settled briefly across the room.
Because honestly?
That question mattered more than teasing.
A serious issue.
Meanwhile—
Tharin immediately lowered his gaze toward the tea cup resting in his hands afterward.
Because somehow—
he wanted hearing the answer and feared it simultaneously.
A dangerous contradiction honestly.
Meanwhile—
Aran quietly leaned back against the couch while thinking for several seconds.
And honestly?
That alone surprised the family slightly.
Because unlike most people—
Aran didn’t rush emotional answers carelessly.
He actually considered them first.
A serious observation.
Then calmly—
Aran: “I noticed him before we spoke.”
Silence.
Then—
Aran: “He looked different from everyone else.”
Another quiet pause followed immediately afterward.
Because somehow—
his voice sounded softer than usual.
A serious issue.
Meanwhile—
Praew narrowed his eyes dramatically.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Because apparently—
he entered emotional detective mode again.
A terrifying older brother trait.
Then suspiciously—
Praew: “Different how?”
Real silence settled once more.
Meanwhile—
Aran glanced briefly toward Tharin sitting beside Chai.
And honestly?
The answer felt obvious now.
Then quietly—
Aran: “Everyone around me usually wants something.”
Silence.
Then calmly—
Aran: “Attention. Status. Connections.”
Another pause followed.
Then—
Aran: “Rin didn’t.”
Real silence filled the living room immediately afterward.
Because honestly?
That answer affected Tharin more than expected.
A serious issue.
At university—
most people approached Aran carefully.
Trying too hard.
Acting overly friendly.
Laughing louder around him.
Treating him differently because of who he was.
But Tharin?
He mostly tried surviving orientation without emotionally collapsing.
A serious difference honestly.
Meanwhile—
Aran continued quietly.
Aran: “He looked overwhelmed.”
Small pause.
Then—
Aran: “But he still stayed polite to everyone.”
Silence followed immediately again.
Because somehow—
Aran noticed details most people ignored naturally.
A dangerous realization honestly.
Meanwhile—
Tharin quietly tightened his grip around the tea cup.
Small movement.
Still noticeable.
Because honestly?
Nobody described him this carefully before.
A serious issue.
Then unexpectedly—
Khem softly spoke beside Praew.
Khem: “Rin’s always been like that.”
Silence.
Then gently—
Khem: “Even when he feels uncomfortable, he worries about other people first.”
Real silence settled around the room again.
Because honestly?
That statement sounded painfully true.
A serious issue.
Back then—
even after cruel rumors spread at his previous school—
Tharin still apologized when his brothers became worried.
Still smiled politely at classmates whispering behind his back.
Still tried avoiding trouble for others.
A dangerous habit honestly.
Meanwhile—
Aran quietly listened.
And suddenly—
something heavy settled inside his chest again.
Because honestly?
The more he learned about Tharin—
the more protective he became instinctively.
A terrifying realization.
Then quietly—
Arthit asked another question.
Calm voice.
Still sharp somehow.
Arthit: “Do you usually become attached this quickly?”
Real silence followed immediately afterward.
Because honestly?
Everyone inside the room wondered the same thing.
A serious issue.
Meanwhile—
Aran answered honestly.
Aran: “No.”
Simple response.
Still meaningful somehow.
Then after a short pause—
Aran: “Actually never.”
Another silence followed.
And suddenly—
the atmosphere became even heavier.
A serious issue honestly.
Because somehow—
that answer sounded frighteningly sincere.
Meanwhile—
Tharin slowly looked toward Aran afterward.
And immediately regretted it spiritually.
A COMPLETE disaster.
Because Aran was already looking at him again.
Not intensely.
Not possessively.
Just attentively somehow.
Like his focus naturally returned to him without effort.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Meanwhile—
Chai quietly leaned toward Tharin afterward.
Then whispered dramatically:
Chai: “You’re emotionally finished.”
Correct honestly.
A devastatingly accurate observation.
Meanwhile—
Tharin immediately elbowed him weakly again.
Coward behavior honestly.
Because denying things felt impossible lately.
A serious issue.
Then unexpectedly—
Than calmly placed the tablet beside him onto the table.
And immediately—
the atmosphere shifted subtly again.
Because whenever Than looked fully focused on conversations—
people unconsciously became nervous.
A terrifying oldest brother honestly.
Then calmly—
Than: “Rin values consistency.”
Silence followed immediately afterward.
Because somehow—
that sentence carried deeper meaning underneath.
A serious issue.
Meanwhile—
Aran listened carefully.
Then quietly—
Aran: “I understand.”
Than studied him silently for several seconds afterward.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Then calmly—
Than: “Do you?”
Real silence settled heavily across the room.
Because honestly?
Than wasn’t asking casually.
A serious issue.
Meanwhile—
Than continued quietly.
Than: “People usually like Rin quickly.”
Small pause.
Then—
Than: “But staying patient after the excitement fades is different.”
Real silence followed immediately again.
Because somehow—
those words carried old memories underneath.
A dangerous truth honestly.
Back then—
people liked the idea of Tharin first.
His appearance.
His gentleness.
His soft personality.
But eventually—
many lost interest once things became inconvenient or serious.
And the family never forgot that.
A serious issue.
Meanwhile—
Aran stayed quiet for several moments before answering.
And strangely—
his expression softened visibly again afterward.
Then calmly—
Aran: “I don’t think my feelings disappear easily.”
Real silence filled the room.
Because somehow—
that sentence sounded terrifyingly genuine.
A serious issue.
Meanwhile—
Praew slowly grabbed Khem’s arm dramatically afterward.
Praew: “…I’m emotionally stressed.”
Reasonable honestly.
Because honestly?
Aran kept saying things sounding dangerously sincere.
A terrifying personality trait.
Meanwhile—
Tharin quietly looked down again because his heartbeat completely lost stability several conversations ago.
A COMPLETE disaster.
Because somehow—
part of him actually believed Aran now.
And honestly?
That possibility frightened him most of all.
Then unexpectedly—
Khem quietly noticed something else.
A dangerous observation honestly.
Because throughout the entire conversation—
every time Tharin became nervous,
overwhelmed,
or quieter—
Aran unconsciously paid attention immediately.
Tiny things.
Small reactions.
Still noticeable somehow.
Like:
* noticing when Tharin stopped eating dessert,
* watching whether he looked uncomfortable,
* shifting conversations whenever his expression dimmed slightly.
Subtle actions.
Still meaningful.
A serious observation honestly.
Meanwhile—
Khem softly looked toward Than afterward.
And silently—
both brothers understood the same thing.
Aran wasn’t simply attracted to Tharin.
He was already emotionally attentive toward him.
A terrifying difference.
- Writer
