Episode-5

Back in Bangkok, the set buzzed with mixed energy—bright lights, quiet nerves, and cameras ready to roll. The two couples and Cassian took their places as the countdown echoed through the studio.

3… 2… 1…

“Good morning krub! Today we have power couples and one of the top rising star joining us on the show. Please welcome FlukeKanin, LucaAiden, and Cassian! Let’s give them a big round of applause,” the MC announced energetically.

The cheers erupted instantly.

“Sawasdee krub! This is your charming Fluke Chidchob krub,” Fluke said, striking a confident pose.

Right beside him, Kanin followed with a bright smile.

“Sawasdee krub! I’m your Kanin Yoovidhya krub.”

“Good morning krub, this is Luca Sukhumvit,” Luca greeted simply, calm and composed.

“Hello everyone, thank you for having us today. I’m Aiden Wongsawat,” Aiden added softly, his voice warm.

Finally, the camera shifted to Cassian.

The lights sharpened his features, casting subtle shadows that made his expression look more serious, more distant. His posture was straight, controlled—but something was missing.

With a deep, steady voice, he greeted the host and audience.

“Good morning krub. This is Cassian Chearavanont.”

The applause was loud.

But beneath it, the silence between them spoke louder.

The MC smiled brightly as the show moved forward.

“So first—what kind of genre is this new series?”

Luca picked up the mic.

“Our new series is sci-fi mixed with thriller. It’s a completely new experience for all of us.”

Fluke nodded and added,

“And the characters we’re playing are very different from what we’ve done before. It pushed us out of our comfort zones.”

“That’s exciting,” the MC said. “We all watched the trailer, and something caught our attention. Cassian—you're wearing a police uniform again. Are you playing a cop once more like in DYTD [Do You Trust Destiny?] ?”

At the mention of the DYTD series, a flicker passed through Cassian’s eyes. Memories surfaced—Kael’s laughter, his voice, moments he never talked about anymore.

But Cassian stayed composed. Professional.

“Yes, my role is a police officer again,” he answered calmly.

“But this character is very different from Captain Rick. I put a lot of effort and personal input into this role. I think viewers will feel the difference once the series airs.”

The MC nodded appreciatively.

“We’re looking forward to that.”

Turning toward the couples, the MC continued,

“FlukeKanin —how would you describe your characters’ relationship in the series?”

Kanin smiled instantly.

“Complicated. Very complicated,” he said, making everyone laugh.

Fluke followed up,

“There’s trust, but also suspicion. Our characters care deeply about each other, but the truth keeps getting in the way.”

“Ohhh, sounds intense,” the MC said. “What about LucaAiden? How is your dynamic different this time?”

Aiden answered thoughtfully.

“Our characters don’t start off close. They’re forced to work together, and slowly that relationship changes.”

Luca added,

“There’s a lot of tension—emotional and psychological. It’s not just romance; it’s survival.”

The MC smiled, clearly intrigued.

“That sounds heavy. Was it emotionally challenging for any of you?”

Fluke nodded.

“Very. Some scenes were mentally exhausting.”

Kanin laughed softly.

“But we supported each other a lot on set.”

The MC turned to Cassian again.

“Cassian, how was it working solo while these two couples were paired?”

Cassian paused for half a second before answering.

“It was different. My character is about an person who choose to isolate himself, so being alone actually helped me understand him better.”

The answer was honest—but incomplete.

The MC concluded the segment warmly.

“It sounds like this series will give us something completely new from all of you. We’re really excited to see it.”

The audience applauded.

The cameras kept rolling.

But somewhere behind Cassian’s calm expression, something still ached— a missing presence no spotlight could replace.

The show was nearing its end.

The MC smiled, cue cards already lowered, the usual closing remarks ready to roll. The audience relaxed, thinking the hardest part was over.

Then the MC paused.

The pause was small—but heavy.

He glanced down, then back up, eyes settling on Cassian.

A split second of hesitation.

And then—

“Cassian… can I ask one last question?”

Cassian looked up, nodding politely.

“Yes, krub.”

The MC inhaled quietly.

“Do you miss him?”

The studio froze.

“Do you miss Kael… and working with him?” the MC continued carefully.

“For the past four years, you’ve been working alone—in your series and music videos. Do you miss him?”

Silence.

Not the awkward kind.

The dangerous kind.

Cassian’s mind went blank.

The lights felt too bright. The mic in his hand suddenly felt heavy. That question—

that question—

was one he had learned not to answer.

When Kael quit the industry and left Thailand, the questions had poured in relentlessly.

Do you miss him?

Why did Kael quit?

Did something happen between you two?

Are you two really not going to work together anymore?

At first, Cassian answered politely. Carefully. Neutrally.

Then the questions multiplied.

And no answer was ever enough.

So he stopped responding.

Over time, the questions faded—

or rather, people pretended they didn’t exist.

Until now.

The MC’s words echoed in his head.

*Do you miss him?*

Cassian didn’t move.

Didn’t blink.

Didn’t speak.

The silence stretched long enough for the audience to shift uneasily.

Fluke was the first to react.

He leaned forward slightly, voice calm but quick, trying to save the moment.

“I think when you work closely with someone for years, it’s natural to miss that teamwork, right?” he said with an easy smile.

“Kael was a great actor and colleague, a fun person.”

Kanin nodded immediately.

“Yes, especially when you grow together in the industry. It’s not easy to replace that bond.”

The MC nodded, grateful—but not satisfied.

Luca stepped in next, voice steady.

“I think people often forget that actors are humans first. Missing someone doesn’t always mean something dramatic—it can simply mean respect and gratitude.”

Aiden added softly,

“Kael contributed a lot. Anyone who worked with him would feel that absence.”

They were all protecting Cassian.

Giving him space.

Giving him an exit.

But Cassian still hadn’t spoken.

The camera slowly zoomed in on him.

His jaw tightened.

Because the truth was—

they weren’t wrong.

But they weren’t right either.

Cassian exhaled slowly, finally lifting the mic closer.

“I…”

His voice faltered. Just slightly.

The room went completely still.

“I stopped answering this question a long time ago,” Cassian said honestly.

“Not because I didn’t have an answer—but because no answer ever felt safe.”

Fluke glanced at him. Kanin’s smile faded.

Luca’s expression softened. Aiden’s brows knitted together.

Cassian swallowed.

“Kael wasn’t just a co-worker.”

He paused.

“We grew up in this industry together. We struggled, failed, succeeded… together. He is my first onscreen partner”

His grip on the mic tightened.

“When he left, people thought I moved on easily because I kept working. But working doesn’t mean forgetting.”

The audience was silent now. No murmurs. No whispers.

“Do I miss him?” Cassian repeated the question quietly.

He looked straight into the camera.

“Yes.”

The word landed softly—

and shattered something invisible.

“Sometimes.”

Fluke’s eyes widened slightly.

Kanin inhaled sharply.

“I miss the version of myself that existed when he was around.” Cassian continued.

“I miss the laughter. The chaos. The comfort of knowing someone understood without asking.”

He smiled faintly—but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“But I also respect his choice. And I’m proud of him for choosing his own happiness.”

Cassian bowed his head slightly.

“So yes… I miss him.”

For a second—

no one clapped.

Then slowly, the applause began. Not loud. Not wild.

But sincere.

Fluke blinked rapidly, eyes glassy.

Kanin reached out subtly, resting his hand near Fluke’s knee.

Luca let out a quiet breath he didn’t realize he was holding.

Aiden’s eyes softened with empathy.

The MC cleared his throat, voice gentler now.

“Thank you for answering honestly, Cassian.”

Cassian nodded, expression composed again—but something in him had shifted.

Miles away, in Turkey, Kael laughed softly with his children—

unaware that, under bright studio lights in Bangkok,

someone had finally said his name out loud.

People talked about Cassian’s answer for days.

Clips spread everywhere—short edits, slowed moments, background music layered over his voice. Fans replayed the scene again and again, dissecting every word, every pause.

But no one looked closely enough.

If they had—

they would’ve noticed Aiden.

When the question was asked—Do you miss him?—the camera had focused on Cassian. On FlukeKanin. On Luca.

But Aiden’s hands had tightened in his lap.

His jaw clenched for half a second too long.

His breath stuttered—just once.

When he spoke on Cassian’s behalf, his voice was steady. Practiced. Gentle.

Too gentle.

And when Luca’s hand rested on his knee—slow, grounding, familiar—Aiden didn’t look surprised.

He looked relieved.

Because that question hadn’t just re-opened Aiden’s wounds.

It had clawed at Aiden.

The newer fans didn’t know.

To them, Kael was just a former actor who quietly disappeared. A name mentioned less and less as years passed.

But the older fans—

the ones who had been there from the very first series, from the cramped rehearsals and awkward interviews—

they remembered.

They remembered how close they all were.

How Kael had once been the loudest laugh in the room.

How Cassian used to glow when Kael stood beside him.

How the group felt… complete.

And they remembered that day.

The day everything collapsed.

Kael had been framed.

Painted as the villain in a story where he was the one bleeding the most.

No official statement ever explained it fully. Just vague apologies. Quiet contract changes. A sudden hiatus that turned permanent.

The price Kael paid was enormous.

He left Thailand.

Left the career he loved.

Left the stage he had fought so hard to stand on.

And at the same time—

he was raising a life inside him.

Almost alone.

The company helped, quietly. Financially. Logistically. Enough to keep him afloat—but not enough to protect him from public judgment.

And Cassian?

Cassian had been there.

At first.

They had been each other’s safe place. Their constant. Their anchor.

Until the moment Cassian trusted someone else.

Someone he’d known for barely a year.

And that trust—

that single choice—

broke Kael more deeply than the scandal ever could.

Because betrayal from the world hurt.

But betrayal from the person you thought would never doubt you?

That shattered something permanently.

And Aiden had been standing right there when it happened.

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