Bangkok.
Saint arrived in the kitchen on that evening for his second shift. He was supposed to help in the kitchen. He greeted the cooks before he asked them of what he should help with. He was wiping on a bone china plate when a hand tapped on his right shoulder. "Yes?" He turned behind him.
"Hello! You must be Cent?" A voice chirped asking him.
In front of Saint stood a cute blonde boy with pale skin and wide curious eyes. The boy's cheeks were pinkish like he was wearing blusher. He noticed that the boy was wearing a maid uniform like him.
"My name is Saint." Saint corrected he boy. "And you are?"
"My name is Plan!" He introduced himself.
Saint giggled softly at the boy's cheerful voice. He decided that he liked that boy.
They were having a nice conversation while preparing for the dinner. Saint discovered that Plan was one year older than him. They shared many similarities and the same sense of humour. Their chats were stopped when Albert informed that dinner was about to be served. Plan was one of the server for the dinner. Saint settled with cleaning in the kitchen while waiting for the dinner to finish.
••••••••
"Perth, your graduation is soon right? Have your father called you?" Tuli asked her son.
Perth put his glass down. "Yes, mom. Dad called me about work."
Tuli nodded her head, "Did he ask about me?"
"I don't remember." Perth frowned. "He didn't call you?"
Tuli smiled at her son after she wiped on her mouth with a napkin. "He did dear. I was just asking you."
Perth nodded his head but there was still a frown etched on his face. He was about to ask more when his mother cut him.
"About the engagement..." Tuli started.
Perth groaned while putting his fork down. "Mom, how many times do I have to tell you. I'm still young and I'm not ready yet."
Tuli gave a pleading smile, "But Perth, your father..."
"He already decided for me to take over the business and yet he wants to decide for my marriage partner."
"I know. But Bua is a nice girl. You've known her since high school."
"I don't like her" Perth cut his mother but adding more when he saw his mother's changing expression. "Mom, let's not talk about this during dinner. I'll talk about this with Dad later."
Tuli just nodded her head giving in to her only son.
"What about your check up?" Perth asked his mother.
They continued their dinner in a pleasant atmosphere. Their workers that were standing at the corner of the dining room knew better to not to eavesdrop and brought any talked matters outside the dining room.
•••••••
On the next morning, Saint went to the library to do his work like usual. He was relieved when the mysterious young man called Perth was not present. He did his job with ease while humming to his favourite song, Primadonna.
When he finished his work, he gathered his tools to keep them in the storage room when he heard a familiar voice calling for him.
"Saint"
Saint turned behind him before he saw Albert was walking towards him.
"Albert." He greeted the older man.
"Saint, I have a favour to ask you." Albert told him.
"Sure, what is it?"
"I'm sure that you've noticed a big cat roaming around the house right?"
Saint nodded his head. He had noticed the big cat. The cat would walking smugly around the house without anyone to scold him.
"That cat belongs to Miss Samantha. He's called Oscar. We take care of him for Miss Samantha. But Oscar has a habit to run away. Can you find him for me? He usually roams in the garden." Albert explained to him.
"No problem. I'll do it after lunch." Saint agreed.
"Thank you Saint. When you find the cat you can give him to Beth. She's the one taking care of him but she has a stomach ache at the moment."
"Sure Albert."
After Saint finished his lunch with his mother, he went to the garden to look for Oscar.
Saint had a feeling that Albert forgot to mention in which part of the garden the spoiled cat usually played at because the garden was massive. Saint decided to start near the flower bushes.
"Alright, kitty cat where are you?" Saint called while peeking inside some hydrangea's bushes.
"Oscar..." Saint called for the cat while making meowing sound.
That was when he heard a cute meowing sound from under some peonies' plants.
"There you are!" He said when he saw a fat cat was rolling in the dirt on the flower's bed.
Oscar was a big tuxedo cat with fluffy fur and green eyes. He took the big cat into his arms before scratching under his chin making Oscar producing a purring sound. There was a gold tag on his collar that written Oscar.
Perth was about to go out when he passed by the french door near the garden. He thought that he saw someone familiar crawling into the flower bushes.
"Interesting." He thought.
He went outside into the garden. He saw a petite body was kneeling on the grass while the head was inside the bush. He would recognise the skirt cladded bum everywhere. "Sun"
He walked slowly towards Saint.
Saint was just petting the big cat in his arms. "Ah... you're cute huh? No wonder you're spoiled." He mumbled at the purring Oscar.
"Thank you, my mom said I'm cute too." Perth whispered beside Saint's ear.
Saint jumped from his knelt when he heard the husky voice beside his ear. Oscar scrambled from his lap running away.
"Oh my God! Can't you just talk properly?" Saint asked him while rubbing on his chest.
Perth just smiled looking at him. "Where did you find Oscar? That guy always running away."
"He is Miss Samantha's cat. Albert asked me to look Samantha's cat, Albert asked me to go after him" Saint explained while brushing on his skirt.
Perth just nodded his head while staring at him.
"Wait." Saint said while lifting his hand. "I'm sorry sir, but are you one of the family members or something like that?" Saint asked him.
Perth snickered "Do you really want to know?"
Saint nodded his head unsure of what to reply.
"Follow me." Perth pulled on Saint's hand. The hand felt so small yet soft in his palm.
"Wait! Oscar?" Saint asked him.
"I'll show you where he is." Perth answered while tightening his grip on Saint's hand pulling him. Saint shook his head having no other choice besides to follow the taller man.
Perth brought Saint through the garden walking on the trimmed grass. They stepped on a long cobble-stoned path heading to a gazebo at the end of the garden.
Saint saw Oscar was laying on the marble top under the gazebo. He picked the cat up wanting to bring him back into the mansion.
"Thank you for showing me his hiding
spot." Saint chuckled while rubbing on Oscar's belly. His action seemed to calm the cat down.
"I'll leave first." Saint said while turning on his feet.
"Wait!" Perth exclaimed while grabbing on Saint's bare arm.
Saint was shocked by Perth's sudden physical contact. He stared at the rings-cladded fingers holding on his arm.
Perth cleared his throat after retracting his hand. He brushed his hair backward. Saint noticed that was one of the habit of him.
"Do you want to see something beautiful?" Perth asked him.
Saint shocked. "What? But.."
"Just follow me." Perth claimed before pulling on his arm again.
Saint wanted to scream his frustration out because Perth was really a touchy person.
Saint followed Perth walking down the steps into a wild flower field. Not too far away, he could see a large oak tree beside a blue lake. His jaw hung slack.
The evening sunlight was hitting on the water surface making the scenery looked heavenly.
"It's beautiful and calming right?"
Saint was snapped out from his reverie when he heard Perth's voice.
"Yes, it is." He admitted.
"I like to come here when I need some inspirations or just to think." Perth explained.
Saint snapped his head towards Perth when he noticed something. "Wait! Who are you?" Saint asked him.
Perth just stared at him. There was a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"How did you know about this place?" Saint asked him again.
Perth just smiled looking at the anxious boy. "I've told you. My name is Perth Tanapon Su-"
"Oh my God." Saint cut him while slapping his palm on his forehead. "You're the young master." Saint exclaimed.
"I'm really sorry sir. I shouldn't talk to you." Saint added while bowing his head down.
Perth frowned while looking at him, his forehead furrowed. "What are you talking about Sun? Why couldn't we talk?"
"You're the young master while I'm the servant. I really need to go." Saint explained while dodging any eye contacts with Perth.
"So? I don't care. I can talk to anyone I want to." Perth exclaimed while looking at Saint. He wanted to lift that chin up.
Saint shook his head before he backed away. "I'm sorry sir. Please excuse me, I need to return Oscar."
Perth stepped forward. "Sun, I really want to be friend with you"
"I need to go." Saint looked anxiously towards the gazebo afraid that someone would see them. The result wouldn't be pretty for him. He ran away when he saw Perth's hand was about to touch him again. "Does this man knows no personal space?" He thought.
"Sun!" Perth called when he saw Saint was running away from him. He could easily catch him but he knew better than to do that. He let out a frustrated groan. "Why is Sun so captivating?" He thought while brushing on his hair. He never show anyone about his secret place but Perth didn't know why he was so open with Saint. But the petite boy was always avoiding him. Perth was frustrated but he had a plan. He would solve it when he come back from Oxford
Saint ran towards the gazebo with Oscar in his arms. He stepped down the stairs carefully afraid that Perth would follow him. Why was Perth so persistent? He shouldn't even follow him in the first place.
He walked faster when he saw the garden. He walked across the garden heading into the side hallway through the opened french door. He brought Oscar into the living room area when he saw a pain-expressioned Beth, he quickly gave him to her. Beth thanked him for looking for Oscar before Saint excused himself to prepare for dinner. Saint was sure his mother was already in her room since tea time was long finished.
Saint walked hurrily into the large kitchen when he bumped into someone's behind.
"Jesus... Saint! Watch where you're going." A familiar voice sounded.
Saint grinned awkwardly when he saw it was Plan who was wiping on the table top.
"I'm sorry Plan."
"What were you doing Saint? You're sweating. Did you run?" Plan asked him.
"Nothing! I... I was just looking for Oscar. Albert asked me to." Saint explained in hurry.
Plan nodded his head didn't notice Saint's nervousness. "Yeah, that brat is really a pain in the ass. Last summer Albert had to look for him in the garden in the middle of the night."
"Really? He's cute though." Saint said imagining Oscar's grumpy face but quickly shaking his head when a sharp face with dark chocolate hair appeared replacing Oscar.
"So, today we're going to make cherry pie. You're going to help us with the crust." Plan exclaimed while looking for Martha, the cook.
Saint smiled at Plan's eagerness. He was a cheerful boy. He glanced at his arm where Perth had hold before. He swallowed his saliva. He just hoped that Perth would forget about everything. He would try his best to avoid Perth in the future.