It was only a few months ago that their fans started voicing sincere concern about the couple not appearing in public much recently. Nor had either of them posted any “happy forever” pictures on Instagram in quite a while. Casual nosiness gradually built into the ultimate social-media inquisition, and finally the brutal question was asked – are you guys still married or what?

The answer came earlier this week when Pluem announced that quite some time ago they had lowered their love-alert level from red hot to cool blue, from married to “just friends”.

“Since there’s been news and gossip about Tubtim and I, I decided to come forward and update everyone on our relationship status,” Pluem was quoted as typing in Bangkok Biz News, which is our sister newspaper, Krungthep Thurakij, taking a well-deserved break from the stock market ticker.

“It is true that we’re no longer couple, and it has been that way for a while. It didn’t make the news because we didn’t have fights or anything like that. Our marriage just fell apart naturally because we realised that what we had between us wasn’t love, but rather great care and concern for one another, like good friends have.

“We actually started off as friends and, as it developed, we thought we were in love. It recently dawned on us after living as a married couple for a while that we’re still just friends. Tubtim is my best friend and she’ll stay in my life forever.”

As if that weren’t clear enough, Tubtim spent some more time on Instagram posting goodbye-to-marriage messages. One goes, “I never thought there would be such a day like this in my life,” probably meaning the day they broke up. “There’s nothing better in life than being surrounded by those who love you,” says another. “I am blessed that I have great family and friends around me, and fans that support me.”

Tubtim seems to have left the Big Announcement duties to her ex, confining her own posts to saying she’s said adios to the online VRZO channel that Pluem founded and where they were co-hosting shows together as recently as late last month. In fact that’s where they met and fell in love – or deeply in friendship, as it turns out.

Their wedding in 2012 was an extravagant “contemporary Thai” bash, making them an instant celebrity couple and boosting their status as Internet idols. Legions of fans tuned into their shows and followed them on the social networks.

Well, at least they split up on the nicest possible terms and they’re still the best of friends, right? Let’s crank up the gossip generator and see. Ah, we notice random hints strewn around that there’s more to this than meets the satisfied eye. Why did Pluem “unfollow” his wife on Instagram if they’re still such buddies, for example? And why did he make no mention of her whatsoever for two whole months before admitting they’d parted ways? And then there was this cryptic post from Pluem’s mother, who has her own Instagram account (vrzomom, as you might have guessed): “Better to have a dog than a person.”

Was that a growl at Tubtim, suggesting she’s less loyal than a pooch (or maybe more trouble)?