Love me or annoy me

Chapter 1

11:23 PM

“I'm telling you, there's someone outside.”

Ploy Wongsakul kept staring through the window.

The café cashier, Chaiwat Srisuan, looked up from the counter.

“Where?”

“Across the street.”

Chaiwat put down the cup in his hand and walked over.

He looked through the glass.

Nothing.

Just rain, a few parked cars, and an empty street.

“I don't see anyone.”

Ploy didn't look away.

“He was there.”

Chaiwat looked at him.

“You're sure?”

“Yes.”

Chaiwat looked outside again.

Still nothing.

“Maybe he left.”

Ploy finally looked at him.

“Maybe.”

Chaiwat frowned.

“You don't sound like you believe that.”

“I don't.”

Ploy picked up his phone from the table.

The screen was still open to the same message.

Where are you?

He hadn't replied.

Chaiwat noticed his face.

“Everything okay?”

Ploy locked his phone.

“Yeah.”

“You've said that three times tonight.”

“Because it's true.”

Chaiwat gave him a look.

Ploy smiled.

“You're not very good at believing people.”

“Not when they're lying.”

Ploy laughed softly.

“You think I'm lying?”

“I think you're hiding something.”

Ploy looked back at the window.

He didn't answer.

Baan Rim Tang Coffee was almost empty now. The other customers had already gone home, leaving only the sound of rain and the quiet hum of the coffee machine.

Chaiwat checked the clock.

11:23 PM.

“We're supposed to close at eleven.”

Ploy looked at the clock too.

“Oh.”

“Oh?”

“I forgot.”

“You forgot that the café closes?”

Ploy shrugged.

“I've had a lot on my mind.”

Chaiwat sighed.

“I noticed.”

Ploy stood and picked up his jacket.

“Fine. I'm going.”

He took a few steps toward the door.

Then stopped.

Chaiwat looked at him.

“What now?”

Ploy stared through the glass.

The person across the street was back.

This time, Ploy could see him clearly.

A man.

Red hair.

Dark clothes.

A motorcycle helmet hanging from one hand.

Ploy's smile disappeared.

“That's him.”

Chaiwat moved beside him.

“Where?”

Ploy pointed.

The man was standing beneath a streetlight.

He wasn't looking at the café.

He was looking directly at Ploy.

Then he raised one hand.

Not a wave.

A warning.

Ploy stepped back.

Chaiwat looked at him.

“Do you know him?”

Ploy shook his head.

“No.”

The man across the street suddenly turned around.

He walked toward his motorcycle.

Ploy watched him.

Then the man's phone lit up.

He stopped.

Looked at the screen.

And slowly turned back toward the café.

Ploy's phone vibrated at the same time.

He looked down.

One new message.

I found you.

Ploy's fingers went cold.

Chaiwat noticed.

“What happened?”

Ploy didn't answer.

He looked up at the man outside.

The man was gone.

Only the motorcycle remained.