No Strings Attached

Said It Once

"Did you not take economics class in college? Are you not familiar with the concept of comparative advantage?" Forth kindly grabs some locally-made toothpaste and soaps.

"Nope, it's not included in the biochemistry curriculum." He moved the cart to the shampoo and conditioner section on the other aisle.

He chuckled and casually placed his arm around his waist. He even parked his car nearby. He glanced at the guy. He was wearing an incredibly stylish and expensive coat. Who would've guessed that this incredibly attractive man, pushing a grocery cart next to him, was actually a billionaire in hotels, casinos, and cars and one of the top five wealthiest individuals in the country?

"Isn't that dangerous what you're doing?" he asked in a low voice so that only he could hear. "You're one of the richest men in the country, is it safe to be in this public place?"

His sinful mouth curved into a heart-stopping smile and he momentarily forgot how to breathe.

"Don't stress, I've got security all around. They're practically invisible, like they graduated from Ninja Academy."

"Oh, my God. Is that a joke? That's so lame!"

Forth patted his rear end as he guided him to the opposite side of the aisle.

He came to a halt when he noticed the woman standing nearby.

A few steps away, they spotted Hana grabbing some condiments from a shelf. She glanced up and spotted them too.

"Hana..." He took a step towards her.

Hana averted her gaze, her lovely face mirroring the expression of someone who had just taken a bitter pill. She simply nodded and pushed her cart away.

He took a deep breath and refocused his attention on the products. There was a twinge in his tongue as well, but he swallowed it down. He moved like a robot, selecting shampoo and conditioner.

The man didn't say anything and was thankful for it. He carried on using hair products.

However, he suddenly became motionless.

"He's the model of your multivitamins."

He gazed at Forth, the man on the multivitamin bottle. Quite a handsome fellow. Benz Jiraroj.

"Do you recognize him?" he murmured.

His eyes were icy, devoid of warmth.

"Yeah," came the icy reply. "But it's not something you should concern yourself with." He leaned back, motioning for him to follow.

The sour taste filled his mouth once again. It served as a stark reminder of their arrangement, and he understood the message loud and clear. They were simply friends with benefits. He had no business prying into personal matters.

As he approached the cashier to settle the bill for his purchases, he eyed Forth with a cold stare.

"Will you be covering my groceries?"

Forth's gaze held a defiant challenge. "Do you have a problem with that?"

His mouth parted, yet he remained quiet. He gave a slight nod to himself. He needed to stop overthinking. This isn't some new strain of dengue virus, he doesn't have to mimic its every move. They were friends with benefits. If it brings him pleasure, there doesn't have to be a profound reason behind it.

"Nah. I shouldn't turn down something that's free." He wrapped his arm around his own waist.

"Not only I can pay for your groceries...I can get you anything, what do you want?"