We'd known each other too long—long enough that when Paing Say Yan said he'd destroy every company I worked for, I knew he meant it. He wasn't bluffing. That kind of threat, from him, was as good as a promise.
Even my mother kept asking why I refused to work with him. I never gave her the real answer. In the end, I agreed.
But not because I wanted to.
This wasn't surrender. It was strategy.
If Paing Say Yan was going to play the role of the loyal childhood friend, then I would play along too—like a good little ghost from the past. But not to help him fulfill our childhood promise. No.
I'd be there to sabotage everything he touched.
I'd destroy him from within.
First Day at Work
He was already waiting for me in the company lobby, leaning casually against the reception desk like he owned the world.
"Took you long enough," he said with a smug grin. "Miss me already?"
I didn't answer. I walked right past him.
He caught up easily, matching my pace with lazy confidence.
"Aw, don't be like that," he said. "We're partners now."
"Not partners," I replied coldly. "This is temporary."
His grin didn't waver. "Everything's temporary, My Baby. Even hatred."
I stopped walking.
Turned.
Looked him dead in the eye.
"Call me that again, and I'll hit you so hard even your mother won't recognize your face."
He laughed—but there was a flicker in his eyes. He heard the steel in my voice.
For three nights, I didn't sleep.
I studied every document. Every report. Every vulnerability.
The City Mall project—Paing's first solo construction lead—was everything. Dozens of companies were competing for it, and he was determined to win. He'd spent weeks preparing financial reports, finalizing design proposals, aligning timelines.
I copied the files.
Found the weaknesses.
And sent the critical details anonymously to the strongest rival company.
By morning, they'd adjusted their bids and undercut his proposal with surgical precision—before the official negotiations even began.
From my office window, I watched it unfold. I sipped my coffee as Paing stormed into the building, his usual smirk nowhere in sight. His jaw was tight. His expression—stormy.
Finally.
A crack in the armor.
But by noon, the headline came in:
"Paing Say Yan Secures City Mall Project Despite Fierce Competition."
My grip on the coffee mug tightened.
What?
Impossible.
And then, like clockwork, he strolled into my office without knocking, a thick report in his hand. He tossed it onto my desk with a smirk that made my blood boil.
"Looks like we pulled it off," he said casually. "Guess luck's on my side today."
My jaw clenched. "Congratulations."
He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice to a whisper.
"You should've seen the other guys' faces when I outmaneuvered them. It was almost like... someone tipped them off or something. Weird, right?"
Our eyes locked.
I didn't flinch.
He chuckled and stood straight, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeve. "Anyway, drinks later to celebrate? Or are you too busy?"
I didn't answer.
Didn't look at him.
Didn't even breathe in his direction.
Because I knew he knew. Of course he did.
Just like I knew he'd pull something like this.
Because we've known each other far too well.
Unfortunately.
Flashback – High School Days
"Hey! You two are lagging behind!"
Before we even stopped our bikes, Myo Thant and Myo Kaung—those two loud-mouthed twins who'd been inseparable since fourth grade—zoomed ahead and cut us off.
"Come on, let's hit the canteen already!" Myo Kaung called. "School just started—bet all the new girls are crowding there by now. We've been waiting forever for you two!"
"Alright, alright," Paing Say Yan said with a cocky grin, straightening his collar and smoothing back his hair with practiced flair. "Let's show them how handsome Paing Say Yan is today."
He gave me a side glance, flashing a wink. So typical.
At our private school, things were more relaxed than public schools. Phones were allowed, some students openly dated, and the rules only mattered when someone crossed the line. That meant we could act like carefree teenage kings most of the time.
The four of us strolled into the canteen. Myo Kaung ordered Shan noodles, Myo Thant went for fried rice, and the two of them quickly got lost in their phones, half-chatting, half-scrolling.
Meanwhile, Paing Say Yan looked over at the waiter boy. "Hey—get him chicken-egg fried rice. Less spice, though—he can't handle it. And no fried peanuts, alright?" He added, "For me, Shan noodles. You can throw anything in there—I eat everything."
I raised a brow, but didn't say anything. He'd just casually ordered my favorite—right down to the spice level and peanut allergy.
He remembered every little thing.
One of the twins shot him a look and muttered something about him being too extra. Then he turned to me, holding out his phone. I leaned in to look.
There it was—a photo of me and Paing Say Yan riding bikes side by side. Posted by the infamous "ship page" on social media.
The caption?
"First day of school, lovebirds together again 😍🚲💞"
That stupid page started out as a joke last year but somehow blew up to nearly 300k followers now. No one knew who ran it—still a mystery. But whoever it was had a talent for capturing the most dramatic (and embarrassing) moments between us.
Paing handed me my plate, wiping down the spoon with tissue before placing it gently in front of me like some kind of prince.
"Damn, I'm proud today," he said. "The photographer's got skill. The admin chose the perfect shot. I look so handsome."
I didn't respond. I didn't need to.
One of the twins chimed in, "I swear, I don't know how they manage to catch every moment between you two. I think admin is really from our school. Sometimes when we haven't seen you guys around, we check that page for updates."
Myo Kaung laughed and added, "Seriously though, Paing—what if the girls really think you're dating Ngwe Nay Kha? They'll all believe you're gay. The school playboy's downfall!"
Paing Say Yan rolled his eyes. "Please. I'm not ugly like you. I've got six-packs and I'm 5′11″—any girl can fall for that. And no one doubts my relationship with Ngwe. Everyone knows we're a legendary duo."
I stood up abruptly. "I'm going to class. You three can keep eating."
"Hey, hey," Paing said, grabbing a tissue and lightly tapping my mouth before handing it to me. "Eat a little more, will you? You're already skinny. Here, take this. Don't make me force-feed you."
He held my wrist and nudged me back into my seat.
"Relax. Class hasn't started yet," he added gently.
I rolled my eyes. "Enough with the drama. I need to meet the teacher. Take care, you three."
I hurried off, but even with the distance, I could still hear his voice calling after me—and it stuck in my ears more than I wanted to admit.
On my way back from meeting the teacher, I saw him again, standing in the hallway.
I didn't want to, but I looked.
"My Babe…"
I sighed. "Shhh. I told you not to call me that."
He just smiled—teasing, as always. "Don't be mad, my little heart."
"Dude, if you keep talking like that, I'm walking away again."
"Then walk," he said, tugging my hand with a grin. "But first tell me—what are you doing after school?"
"I have study session," I replied, adjusting my bag.
"Again?" he asked, clearly not surprised. "You're already first in class. Give the rest of us a chance."
"Which is why I have to work harder. I want to stay first—every month."
He grinned. "Fine, fine. What time does it end? I'll pick you up."
"Six o'clock. But if you're late," I warned, narrowing my eyes, "I'll beat you."
"Got it… My Babe."
And just like that, all the irritation I'd carried faded for a moment.
Because no matter how loud or annoying or ridiculous he was…
He always had my back.
And I never really doubted that.