Thank you

Hello, dear readers of Barista!

For this e-book, the author has written it as a Valentine's gift for everyone
who has supported the author's e-books all along. I hope everyone enjoys
this month of love.

Thank you for always being a source of encouragement and support for this
small writer.

Barista will continue to improve my writing and keep producing more good
works.

I am still deeply in love with writing and will keep creating stories for all of
you to enjoy.

With love,

Barista Rainbow
 01. VIP Customer

Hello, my name is Kwanjai.

"Kwanjai" means "the most beloved woman," but would you believe that in
all my twenty-five years of life, I have never been anyone's beloved?

Throughout my life, many men have tried to court me-young and old, from
university students to men old enough to be my father. But I've never felt a
strong connection with anyone enough to call them my boyfriend.

So, I've remained single until now.

Currently, I work at a Thai restaurant. It's the riverside. My job is to

welcome customers and manage table reservations. We also have VIP
rooms for guests who prefer more privacy.

During the day, we serve a variety of Thai dishes. Then, from 8 PM

onwards, we offer alcoholic drinks and live music.

And today, February 14th-Valentine's Day-couples are filling the restaurant,

enjoying their meals and exchanging gifts.

To match the occasion, we've placed beautifully arranged red roses in vases
on every table. Customers can also order bouquets if they want, as we
provide a special floral arrangement service for this romantic day.

"Phi Kwan! Phi Kwan! Phi Kwan!"

A loud voice called out my name, nearly making my ears burst. I had no
idea when Jane, our cashier, would finally stop being so loud. Ever since I
started working here two years ago, there hasn't been a single day when she
wasn't shouting.
"Jane, why are you yelling? I'm standing right here."

I responded while checking today's reservation list. Since the restaurant was
packed, I had to come in early and work both morning and afternoon shifts.
But that was fine-I'd do anything for money.

"You are standing there in daze, Phi Kwan! I was calling you to show you
something good!"

"What 'something good'?"

I asked, irritated, as I was already overwhelmed with work.

"Our important guest! Look, she's coming in now!"

Jane pointed toward a tall woman dressed in a black suit. Her sleek, jet-
black hair fell elegantly around her shoulders. She walked into the
restaurant with confidence, every step graceful and composed. The way she
moved, spoke, smiled, and greeted people-I couldn't take my eyes off her.

"Who is she? I've never seen her here before."

I turned to ask Jane, who was standing next to me, though my eyes
remained fixed on the woman's face.

Her face was slender, with well-proportioned features-her eyes, nose, and
lips complementing each other perfectly. Her dark, sharp eyebrows framed
her face, and her makeup was light, not too sweet yet not too bold. If I had
to describe her beauty, I'd say it was just right-neither too much nor too
little-but incredibly captivating.

"Her name is Khun Tree. She owns the luxury hotel right across from our
restaurant, Phi Kwan. She's insanely rich, like ridiculously wealthy! She
owns multiple businesses and is well-known in high society. She often
attends social and charity events. Seriously, where have you been to not
know about her?"

Jane finished her explanation with an exasperated sigh.

"Okay, but why are you getting annoyed at me? It's not like I make a habit
of keeping up with other people's lives."

"Maybe you should! It might just make your life better."

"What do you mean?"

I didn't quite understand what she was getting at, so I asked again.

"Khun Tree is single. You're also single. It's been two years since you've
had a Valentine's date. Don't you ever feel lonely watching customers give
each other flowers?"

Her question hit me like a dagger to the heart. Who said I wasn't lonely? I
was incredibly lonely. But that didn't mean I'd just grab someone to be my
partner for the sake of it.

If I wasn't truly interested, I wouldn't force myself into a relationship. Call

me picky if you want, but that's why I'm still single.

"And what does that have to do with anything? She's a woman, I'm a
woman-how would that even work?"

"Oh, come on, Phi Kwan! It's 2025! At least give it a shot-what's the harm?
You've gone on dates with male customers before, haven't you?"

"That's different, Jane. They were paying customers. In this world, money
matters more than love. Love doesn't buy you food."

As Jane and I bickered, the very person we were talking about stopped right
in front of me.

For a moment, it felt like I was under a spell, unable to look away from her
gaze.

"I reserved a VIP room. Could you tell me where it is?"

Her voice was calm yet clear and confident, making her even more alluring.
"Uh-um... May I have your name, please? I'm in charge of welcoming
guests and handling all table reservations."

I asked in a hesitant, stuttering voice, completely confused by my own

reaction. Normally, I could speak confidently with any customer, but
something about this woman named Tree, there were made me
unexpectedly nervous.

"I'm Treethip. Treethip Kamonthip,"

She replied smoothly.

"I called yesterday at 2:45 PM to reserve a VIP room. I hope you still
remember me, Khun Kwanjai?"

.
❄❄❄❄❄
02.I Need Someone to Take Care of
Me

"I remember now! Please, this way."

As soon as she stated her full name, I recalled her reservation immediately.
There was only one customer named Treethip.

I led her to the VIP dining room on the other side of the restaurant. This
private room was furnished with a dining table, a TV screen for karaoke,
and the option to have a personal waiter to come into the room to take care
of them privately.

"A staff member will be here shortly to take your order. In the meantime,
you can browse the menu,"

I said, handing her the menu.

She sat comfortably on the luxurious sofa, one leg crossed over the other,
exuding an air of ease. However, she didn’t take the menu from me. She
remained still, her posture poised and composed.

"I'll have your most expensive bottle of wine and someone to pour it for me.
I don’t need any food."

Upon hearing her request, I lowered the menu and held it against my body
before responding.

"Understood. I’ll arrange that for you. As for the waiter, I’ll have someone
sent in shortly. Please wait a moment."

"Can’t you take care of me instead?"

Just as I was about to step out, her question made me freeze in place.

"I’m sorry, but my job is to welcome customers and oversee the restaurant
floor. I’m not available for personal service."

"And if I want you to take care of me personally—how much do I have to

pay?"

Her question didn’t shock me. Plenty of customers had made similar
inquiries before. The answer was always the same: if they were willing to
meet my price, I was willing to accommodate them.

"If you need someone to dine with you, keep you company, or just listen to
you talk, you’ll have to wait until my shift ends. I can’t take on personal
requests while I’m on duty. If you agree, I charge 5,000 baht per hour for
overtime."

I named a higher price than usual—not because I assumed she was wealthy,
but because I didn’t expect her to be serious.

But if she was willing to pay, then I was willing to have dinner with her.

"I'll pay you 10,000 baht per hour. I need you for two hours at midnight
tonight. If it's convenient for you, please send me your account number, and
I'll transfer the money right away."

I fell silent for a moment upon hearing that. My mind was calculating the
amount that would be deposited into my account if I accepted this job.
Twenty thousand baht—just for having dinner for two hours?

"But it's just dinner, right?"

I decided to ask to be sure. With this much money involved, if the client
were a man, I wouldn't have to guess what would happen after dinner.

But since Khun Treethip was a woman, I didn't want to overthink it and
assume she had any deeper intentions towards me—despite the large sum
she was offering.
"Why do you ask? You're not thinking anything negative about me, are you?
What kind of person do you think I am?"

Her voice turned icy, sending a chill down my spine. Maybe the best thing
to do now was to accept and send her my account details.

"No, of course not! I don't see you that way, Khun Treethip. It's just that I
don’t usually get female clients inviting me out for dinner, so I was a bit
surprised."

"Well, try it then. There's no harm in that."

Her words seemed to have a strange meaning hidden in them, but when I
looked up to meet her gaze, her expression was unreadable. It was hard to
tell what she was thinking, so I decided to let it go.

"Alright, I accept. My shift ends exactly at midnight, so I'll join you then.
Where would you like to go for dinner?"

I asked about the meeting place, knowing that after this, I’d have to get
back to work, and she would likely go wait somewhere.

"I'll tell you the location later. Give me your phone, add me on LINE, and
send me your account number. I'll transfer the money now. And just so you
know—don’t bail on me. I won’t leave. I’ll wait for you right here until
you’re done with work."

"You don't have to worry about that. I won’t bail on you."

I replied while handing over my phone to the woman seated on the

luxurious sofa.
After adding her on LINE, I immediately sent my account details. Within
five minutes, the 20,000 baht was in my account. I never imagined it would
be this easy.

"Don't bail on me."

She reminded me again. I nodded and then walked out of the room.

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 03. The Cause of Sorrow

Tonight, the restaurant was packed with customers, every table occupied.
Most of them were couples enjoying their meals together.

I had been welcoming guests non-stop until my legs felt like they were
about to give out. By the time my shift ended, it was exactly midnight.

When I returned to the VIP room, I found that Khun Treethip had fallen
asleep while waiting for me.

This was my chance to take a good look at her face. Earlier, during our
conversation, I had been avoiding her gaze the entire time. There was
something about her eyes—an unreadable expression that felt like it carried
a hidden meaning.

"Khun Treethip, my shift is over now,"

I called softly as I stepped closer and gently shook her arm. It didn’t take
long for her to wake up.

"When did I fall asleep?"

She mumbled sleepily while pushing herself up from the sofa. Seeing her
struggle, I quickly moved to support her, and that’s when I caught a strong
scent of alcohol.

"Did you drink?"

"A little. Just two glasses of wine,"

She answered, nodding toward the opened bottle on the table.

"I see. Where's your car? Let me help you get there,"

I offered, noticing that she didn’t seem completely steady. If she walked out
alone, she might not even make it to her car.

"I'm fine. Just bring the wine with you. I feel like drinking all night."

I caught a glimpse of sorrow in her eyes. Her words carried a sense of

loneliness and deep sadness.

If I had to guess, I’d say she was going through something painful—so
much so that she booked a private dining room just to drink to relieve her
problems.

Khun Tree walked ahead, leaving the restaurant, and I didn’t hesitate to
grab the wine bottle and follow her.

Her car was a luxury sedan, the latest model from a well-known brand. I
had just seen its commercial on TV a few days ago. Never in my life had I
imagined I’d be sitting in such an expensive car.

Thinking about it now, I remembered what Jane had said to me.

Maybe I should try doing things I’d never done before.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad—if it meant a better life for me.

"Do you know how to drive?"

The person who reached the car first turned and asked while I was walking
closely behind.

"Yes, I do, but..."

As for driving, I can drive, but honestly, if I had to drive such an expensive
car, I’d be nervous too. If I accidentally hit something, my entire month's
salary wouldn't be enough to cover the repairs.

"You don't have to act shy. Just drive for me. I have a headache."
The other person handed me the car keys with a frustrated expression,
which made me hesitate to refuse.

Besides, I'd already been paid twenty thousand baht, so I should do my best
tonight; it's probably the right thing to do.

"Then please don't fall asleep. Help me with the directions first."

"I know. Let's hurry up and go."

The person, who was a bit tipsy, walked around to open the passenger side
door, so I quickly went to open the driver’s door and got in right away.

I could hardly believe how amazing the luxury car was. Just sitting down on
the soft seat felt so good. Even though I hadn’t started driving yet, it felt
incredibly nice—the smell of a new car, the scent of modernity, the scent of
technology. Everything in the car that I’d never known could be so nice.

"What’s wrong with someone like me?"

"Huh? What did you say?"

After I drove the car out of the restaurant, suddenly the person in the
passenger seat said something strange out of nowhere.

"Why is it that someone as talented as me, beautiful and rich, with

everything—money and comfort—ends up being dumped? Why has the
past five years meant nothing? Why did this happen? Why, why...sob,
sob..."

I just stayed quiet as I realized the person’s feelings, the cause of her
drunkenness tonight, and the reason she had paid me twenty thousand baht
to have dinner with her. It was probably because she had just been dumped.
Five years? Hearing that, I immediately felt sorry for Khun Tri.

"Calm down, Khun Tri. It's okay. Whatever is in the past, don't think about
it anymore. How about this? I’ll stay with you tonight. Since you’ve already
paid twenty thousand, let me extend the time and stay the whole night,
okay?"

When I said that, the sobbing from the person beside me immediately
stopped.

“Are you telling the truth, or just saying it to make me happy? You’re not
going to deceive me, are you?”

In those words, I could sense her suspicion and lack of trust.

“I won’t deceive you, Khun Tree. I promise I will stay with you all night.”

❄❄❄❄❄
 04. Can't take my eyes off

I drove safely to Khun Treet’s condo, and she seemed to be sobering up.
Since I told her I would stay the night, the atmosphere in the car changed.
She seemed interested in my life and asked very personal questions.

It was strange that I was willing to share my personal story with her, even
though we had only just met a few hours ago.

“Seventh floor.”

Khun Tree said briefly after we both stepped into the elevator together. I
immediately pressed the number seven after hearing that. Then, silence
filled the air.

“Did you bring the wine?”

She asked.

“Yes, I brought it. I put it in my purse because I was afraid it might break. It
was expensive.”

“You’re careful. Are you okay that I didn’t take you to a fancy restaurant
but brought you to my condo instead?”

“It's okay. I don’t have the right to choose the place. As long as you do what
we agreed on.”

“What do you mean by what we agreed on?”

The cold, calm tone made my heart flutter. Right now, I felt like sugar cane
in an elephant's mouth. I hoped Khun Tree wasn’t planning anything tricky.
“My job today to have dinner, stay with you all night, and listen to your
stories. That’s all I have to do.”

I finished speaking just as the elevator door opened. She walked out ahead
of me, leaving me behind with a fluttering feeling in my heart.

I quickly followed Khun Tree. After she used the key card to open the door
to the room, I was shocked when I saw inside. It was even more surprising
than the luxury car.

This wasn’t just a room—it looked more like the inside of a grand mansion,
like something out of a drama I had watched. The room’s decorations and
furniture were elegant and expensive, no doubt about it.

“Make yourself comfortable. Don’t be stiff. I’m going to take a shower.

Please set up the table for me. We’ll probably drink all night. I hope one
bottle of wine will be enough.”

The other person told me that and then walked away. When I heard the
sound of the shower in the bathroom, I sighed with relief. I admit that being
close to this woman made it hard for me to breathe freely.

I started setting up the wine table, preparing an ice bucket for the wine and
two wine glasses. I noticed a flower vase on the table in front of the couch.

So, I took the liberty of moving the vase with roses and placing it on the
table I had prepared for the wine.

It didn't take long for Khun Tree to finish her shower. She came out wearing
a long-sleeved nightdress, which reached down to her knees. The fabric was
a shiny blue satin that suited her well, contrasting beautifully with her fair
skin.

"If you're going to look at me like that, I'll feel shy."

When I heard her comment, I realized I had been staring at her for too long.

"I'm sorry, Khun Tree. I didn't mean to."

I quickly lowered my head to avoid her gaze, but suddenly, her slender hand
reached up to lift my chin, making me look up into her eyes.

"No need to be so nervous. I was just teasing you. Come sit here."

Khun Tree finished speaking and walked over to sit on the couch in front of
the TV. I had a slight question in my mind, because she had just asked me to
set up the wine table, but now she was choosing to sit somewhere else.
However, I decided not to ask and hurriedly followed her.

"I changed my mind. I want to sit here and drink the wine instead."

"Okay, I'll go get the wine glasses and bring them over here."

I walked back to the table I had set up and grabbed the wine glasses and ice
bucket, moving them to the table in front of the couch.

When I returned, I saw Khun Tree sitting with her legs crossed, and her
nightdress accidentally revealed her beautiful legs.

Once again, I found myself gazing at this woman as if under a spell. More
than just being beautiful, she had a charm and a well-maintained body that
clearly showed she took care of herself.

"Sit down. You've been staring at me again."

"Ah, I'm sorry, Khun Tree. I'm really sorry."

I said, lowering my head a little, and quickly sat down on the couch beside
her.

After that, our wine drinking began. Throughout the conversation, I learned
that this woman was very talented.

But her focus on business had caused her to lose the girlfriend she had been
with for five years, as she ended up falling for someone else. That caused
her a lot of pain.

"Kwann."
"Yes?"

Suddenly, the person next to me called my name and looked at me without

blinking.

"Have you ever had a girlfriend?"

Khun Tree's question made me feel embarrassed. Even though before this, I
had never felt anything like this towards someone of the same gender.

"No, I haven't. Actually, I should say that I've never had a boyfriend,
either."

"Never had one?"

"Yes, I’ve never had a partner, neither a man nor... um, a woman."

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
 05. Try to Love

"Do you want to try having a girlfriend?"

The question from Khun Tree made me go silent because I had never
thought about this before.

But right now, all I know is that being close to her makes me feel strangely
shaken, like I'm not myself, and suddenly I'm feeling excited.

It's a new feeling that I've never experienced before.

"Uh... I don't know. I don't know what I'm supposed to do or how I'm
supposed to feel."

"So, how do you feel right now, Hmm?"

After Khun Tree's sentence, her slender hand reached out to gently touch
my cheek, making me have to look up at her again. And now, our bodies
were pressed so close together that I could feel each other's heat.

"Khun Tree, you're... drunk now."

I responded awkwardly, especially as her hand slowly traced every inch of

my face. My heart raced so fast I thought it might explode.

"Your face is burning. Are you embarrassed? Or is it just hot in here?"

"I'm not embarrassed. Uh, the weather is hot."

"Oh, I see. Well, come here."

After speaking, Khun Tree stood up from the sofa and walked straight to
her bedroom.

When I saw her heading to the bedroom, my heart dropped. What would
happen if we moved to the bedroom to drink wine? I had no idea what this
woman was thinking.

"Bring the wine glasses with you."

But hearing that order, I followed without hesitation.

I poured the wine into both glasses and walked to follow her into the room.
Once inside, I felt the cool air from the air conditioner that Khun Tree had
already turned on.

The owner of the room was sitting comfortably on the bed, crossing her
legs, and I noticed a slight smile on her lips. She must be in a better mood
now.

Khun Tree shifted to lean against the headboard, her gaze fixed on me as if
she was trying to communicate something, but I couldn't figure out what it
was.

"Come sit and drink with me."

Khun Tree reached out for a wine glass, and I immediately handed it to her.
After that, I sat down on the bed in the space next to her.

"Let's make a toast."

Khun Tree lifted her glass, and I extended mine towards her. There was a
soft clink as our glasses met.

The moment our eyes locked, my heart almost stopped. Especially now,
with her face so close to mine, I was captivated by her beauty even more.

"I like you,"

Khun Tree said briefly, her gaze still fixed on my face without looking
away.

"But we just met," I replied.

"So what? Just because we’ve just met doesn’t mean we don’t know each
other now," she said.

"You just had a breakup, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I did. And right now, I really need someone to comfort me now."

"....."

"Do you want to try love with a woman, since you’re already affected by
my actions right now? If it’s meant to be, it will be. But if it’s not, no matter
what, you won’t feel anything."

I lowered my gaze because I was feeling very shy, but at the same time, I
was processing every word Khun Tree said, and I agreed with her. If it’s not
meant to be, it just won’t feel right.

"So, what should I do?"

I asked shyly. The more she stared at my face and gently stroked my cheek
with her hand, the hotter my face became.

I couldn’t believe that someone who had never felt this way with any man
could feel this way with another woman. And that woman was someone so
perfect in every way.

"Don't worry. Just let everything flow with your feelings. Your heart and
mind will guide you."

"Is that all?" I asked.

"Yep, that’s it."

After speaking, Khun Tree raised her wine glass again. She then placed it
beside her on the bed and slowly moved her face closer to mine.

Now, our noses were almost touching, and I could feel her warm breath in
such close proximity.

After that, Khun Tree gently pressed her beautiful lips against mine. The
sweet taste of wine lingering on her lips was still vivid. It was both fragrant
and sweet, making me want to taste it more and more.

'Up, up.'

I unconsciously responded to that action. Now, my mind was empty, calm,

and felt light and at ease, as if I had shed all the heaviness and exhaustion.

Khun Tree's kiss was soft and sweet, making me fall deeper into it.

We kissed for a long time, exchanging and receiving these tender touches
gently.

Until the kiss turned into something more intense and passionate. Now, my
body and heart were learning together, learning new sensations I had never
felt before, but they made me feel so good.

I let everything unfold as my heart desired, not resisting Khun Tree's

actions, even a little. Yet, I felt myself longing for her touch more and more
with every passing moment.

Everything was much better than I had expected, especially when the warm
breath of Khun Tree brushed against my body, as if she were intentionally
exploring every inch of my skin.

I loved it so much. I loved this action, this feeling, and now, it seemed that I
was starting to like this woman too.

Tonight is a night that bring me so much happiness. Every year, I don't like
Valentine’s Day because everyone around me would share their love, but
this year, I didn't feel that way.
Tonight was both sweet, warm, and passionate, and I wanted to hold onto
this moment for as long as possible.

❄❄❄❄❄
 Epilogue

This morning, I woke up beside the person next to me. We were both lying
naked under the same blanket. The touches and feelings from last night
made me so happy.

Even though our meeting was a coincidence, and I don’t know what will
happen from now on, at least last night I became sure of my own feelings
that I am deeply fascinated by the touch and body of someone of the same
sex.

It’s nice to try learning something I’ve never experienced before. At least it
helps me understand myself better. Even though we may part ways after
this, what happened last night will remain the best Valentine’s night I’ve
ever had.

"Are you awake, Khun Tree?"

I turned to ask the person beside me when I saw her move a little.

"Mmhm, I have a meeting at 10 o'clock today."

"Your life is all work, isn’t it? You must be so tired."

"Yes, I’m tired. I’m really tired. I wish I had someone to pamper me after
work."

"Pamper? What do you mean?"

I didn’t quite understand what she said, so I asked innocently.

"Well, pamper like this."

After speaking, Khun Tree leaned in and kissed my cheek. Then, she
dragged the tip of her nose along my face, breathing warmly against it.

Her touch still made my heart race, just like before. And it seemed that now,
I had already fallen for her.

"Enough, Khun Tree. You’ll be late for work. I have to go home now."

After speaking, I prepared to get out of bed to put on my clothes, but she
grabbed my wrist and pulled me back onto her.

"Kwan, I want to see you again."

"What do you mean?"

"How about we try dating? I feel like I need you, and I want you to stay
with me. I don’t want our relationship to end just with last night."

"Are you serious, Khun Tree?"

I felt extremely happy when I realized that she felt the same way. It's not
just her who wants to continue this relationship; of course, I am too.

"By the way, I want you to try learning love in my way. I hope you don't
mind."

"Not at all, Khun Tree. Don’t think that way. I’m actually happy that you
want to continue because I feel the same. I still want to see you, talk to you,
and learn everything about you. And most importantly, last night, I felt
really good."

When I said that, Khun Tree immediately smiled.

"Are you hooked on me now?"

Her short question made my face turn red, and I felt like my cheeks were
burning.

"I guess so. I must be really like you now."

--------THE END------
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