The plane touched down with a smooth thud on the Phuket runway. Sunlight spilled across the tarmac, a wash of golden warmth radiating on Jean's face. Everyone is excited as this is the last day of the charity event and after that their vacation , but Jean, Ray, Juli, Prez, Miana and Jake had gloomy faces. As they couldn't contact Sam, Rai or Rowon… none of them. And just at that time in front of the hotel lounge, a SUV rolled in. As the door opened, Sam stood up, —- stiff, regal in his black suit, hair still perfectly slicked, trying very hard not to think about that kiss.
Behind him, Rai and Rowon followed, tense but composed, as if they did not just threaten to blow up a jet 30 minutes ago.
"SAM!!"
Jean screamed from the lounge.
Prez, Jake, Miana, Juli, Ray, Jean — all rushed forward, voices mix of relief, panic, and an explosion of questions.
Sam was barely standing before Jake yanked him into a headlock, " You… actual… idiot!! Do you know how worried we were?"
Prez tugged him out, checking his face, " Did he hurt you?! Blink twice if you were kidnapped."
Miana: You look like you just walked out of a photoshoot??!
Rowon while seeing this mess turning into an even bigger mess said, " Excuse me? Are you guys forgetting that we also went with him?"
Juli: Oh shit, I almost forgot.
Jean: I called you Rai. You didn't pick up.
Rai: Oh I could never do that but a kid got drugged again and kidnapped in a jet. Classic.
They all turned to Sam. Who was now scratching his neck, " Why don't you speak in the room?"
_____
Everyone was gathered in Sam's room, 9 of them. As Rai and Rowon didn't get an explanation from Sam. What actually happened?
Sam: So I talked with Sage. There's nothing wrong with our body. That's it.
Rai: That's not it!
Jean while grabbing Sam's arm, " You got into the house, came back like this, and you say nothing else. That's it?
Jake while glaring at Sam, " Say it!"
Sam: Oh! Fine then listen.
Sam told all the stories related to guest's and 5 years old kids. What he heard from Sage. Excluding the part where Sage kissed him,he said he was knocked out and the next thing he was jet.
And all of them were thunderstruck.
Jean: Why did he save us?
Sam: Coverage.
Rowon: So, there's nothing wrong with those kids and us ?
Sam: No. It was only targeted to the guest's.
Maina : Oh my god. So all those people died already?
Sam: The virus will torment them till the last breath, they will beg for death but won't get it. In the last few hours when they will actually start to feel better, their skin will crack, bleeding out till the last drop. Empty.
Prez just got goosebumps. All of them got it. Rai secretly looked at Jean's needle mark. An unknown worry took place in his head.
Ray: And now we're safe.
Sam: Yes.
Rowon cleared his throat, " Enough now, we wanted to know what's wrong with our body, we got the answers, we are all safe now. He's also safe now."
Prez: Yes. Now we have a bigger thing coming.
Jake: What?
Jean while sipping the drink, " The second ribbon-cutting is in an hour."
Jake: Fuck.
Juli: Yes. We gotta hurry, let's get ready. This time we can wear whatever we want. Not a damn matching waiter dress.
Ray: Unlike a certain someone, we're still not ready.
Ray glanced at Sam. As if he knows something without even saying. Well except for Sam who still didn't see the mirror, there were red hickey marks on his neck, which they can see clearly as Sam wore a or should I say Sage made Sam wore a black suit with no undershirt. All of them already understood what actually happened . But they didn't say anything, they just only smiled among themselves. Which Sam couldn't understand.
And while leaving the room Jean said with a mischievous smile, " I think you foundation."
Prez and Miana: We can touch it up if you want. Just knock on the door.
And Prez winked.
Sam was dumbfounded as all of them left with the same expression. Rai and Rowon patted his shoulder while shaking their heads.
All of them left except Jake, with whom Sam was sharing the room. Jake turned Sam around and Said, " Why don't you take a look in the mirror?"
Sam ran toward the big mirror on the side, his neck had 3 hickeys, red. And now his face also turned red. Jake whistled from behind, " If you don't wanna show everyone those love bites, go to Prez's room. She will touch it up."
And Sam ran with a towel covering his neck, knocking Prez's room. Prez opened the door as if she was expecting him to come in less than 5 minutes, " Need some touch up?"
Sam with an awkward blush in his cheeks, "Yes please."
Miana: Come in!!
And as the clock was ticking. Time arrived when the 2nd event was going to take place.
________
BETA's second event was a far more relaxed affair… . set in a large, open air courtyard near the coast. The new orphanage in Phuket wasn't a secret operation, but a fully funded, transparent school facility.. or so it seemed.
Locals were invited… . shop owners, small business families. Music played softly through the speakers, tables were lined with tropical fruits and chilled drinks. This time, all students were invited.
Felton stood by the black limo as Sage stepped out in a sleek navy suit.
Cameras turned. Flashbulbs burst. A red velvet ribbon stretched across the entryway.
And then—
Snip.
Another cheer. Another speech.
Sage, holding the mic again like a seasoned emperor, smiled.
Sage: Hope is not limited to city lights. Even the sea has stories worth hearing. This is our promise—- to raise the future with purpose, no matter where they come from.
Applause.
Jake leaned toward Prez, " He talks like he's running for prime minister."
Prez: He'd probably win too. With one smirk.
Ray, whispering, " Why's Sam hiding behind Jean? As if it's even covering him."
Miana: Because his lips still taste like chocolate.
Sam: I hate all of you.
Rowon and Rai as usual standing behind the students. Exchanging looks.
Rowon muttered to Rai, " Did he just say ' even sea has stories'?"
Rai: I'd drown him in one.
The event in Phuket town was the same as Bangkok. After the event Sage invited every student to an after party to let them enjoy themselves.
________
The night air in Phuket was humid but electric.
Strings of fairy lights criss crossed above the coastal plaza, flickering like lazy stars. A live DJ had set up near the main fountain, mixing smooth beats with tropical flair. Round tables lined the plaza edges, each decorated with candles and fresh-cut orchids. The buffet had seafood, desserts, and a suspicious number of grape-colored drinks.
Jean, Jake, Prez, Juli, Miana, Ray, and Sam gathered around one table.
Jean raised his glass, " Cheers to not dying!"
Everyone clinked.
Sam shipped first and blinked. "Huh. That's… not grape juice."
Jake: Shut up. It is grape juice.
Prez: Who cares?!
They all drank. Five bottles in. "On the floor" J. Lo's.. dropped through the speakers like a challenge.
Jake: SOMEONE PLAY THE REMIX!!
Miana: Let's do this… . Come on, Prez!!
Ray spun Juli dramatically while doing an arm wave, " I was born to dance to this song."
Sam: No one look at me. I'm not doing this.
Jean yanked him up, " Too late. You're in."
And just like that, the dance floor exploded. Everyone was too drunk to argue and started dancing like crazy.
Rowon blinked, " Please tell me they're just high on sugar."
Rai while sipping the drink, " It's wine."
Rowon: How many bottles?
Rai pointed, " That table has five. That one over there— two more"
Rowon, while not having it anymore lost it, " I'm joining them."
Rai just smiled while sipping another glass of wine.
The wine prank? All Sage.
He simply didn't label it. That's it. That was the whole plan. Result?
A crowd of overly confident teenagers swirling around a dance plaza like soap bubbles.
Prez in her maroon mini dress, swayed like waves, Miana in her blue sundress dancing and clicking photos as evidence to show them later.
Then—
VP sir stepped forward like a dark horse out of a Bollywood dream. Everyone expected him to scold them.
Instead, he snatched DJ's place.
He hit play.
The beat of "Nachange Saari Raat" erupted over the plaza.
Juli screamed.
Prez screamed even louder, " It's Bollywood night, baby!!"
Light's danced across the courtyard as the students lost their collective minds.
Prez led the charge, waist moving like a serpent possessed, dragging Sam, Jean, Jake, and Rowon into her gravitational pull.
They all followed… no thoughts, just hips.
Jean flipped his collar, grinding with Jake like they'd practiced this in a mirror.
Sam blushed harder than the wine had made him, until Prez pulled him by the collar with a wicked smirk.
Even Rowon… stoic, logical Rowon… was suddenly found shoulder rolls like a TikTok backup dancer.
From the balcony above, Sage watched with his drink in hand, lips curved in amusement, lazily tapping one finger to the beat.
Rai, below, caught the movement and raised a brow. Join in? He mouthed.
Sage laughed silently and shook his head, sipping.
Felton, beside Sage, chuckled, " Should I stop them?"
Sage: Why? This is better than Netflix."
Rai, unimpressed, folded his arms.. but his foot tapped to rhythm anyway. Eyes locked on to only one person. Jean.
And just when everyone thought it couldn't get more unhinged… .
"Gasolina" started to play.
VP sir jumped into the circle with a dramatic body roll, belting the lyrics like a man in his prime.
The students LOST it.
Prez whooped, " VP sirrrr you're the MVP!!"
All of them danced like crazy, jamming to the beats.
Back up top, Sage's drink tilted slightly. As if already regretting the prank.
Sage: Felton.
Felton, already sighing, " Yea?"
Sage: Give them something to sober up before they start pole dancing.
Felton: Already on it.
And with that, the most chaotic night in BETA event history continued.
_________
The music still pumped in the background, but it was muffled now… . like it belonged to another world. Jean's footsteps echoed off the marble as he pushed open the restroom door, heart racing, cheeks flushed from more than just wine.
He leaned over the sink, splashing cold water across his face. Droplets trailed down his neck but the heat inside him didn't fade.
A soft click.
Jean didn't turn. He didn't need to. He knew who it was the moment the door creaked and locked behind them.
Rai.
Their reflection met in the mirror.
Jean smirked, voice low, " Took you long enough."
Rai said nothing. He didn't have to.
Jean turned, closing the distance in two steps, fingers curling around Rai's jaw as he leaned in and brushed his lips along the corner of Rai's mouth. A soft, teasing taste.
Rai: You were expecting me?
Jean's eyes heavy-lidded, drunk and something more dangerous, " Those lips," he murmured, " are just too kissable. Couldn't ignore it anymore."
Something in Rai cracked.
His hand shot out, grabbing Jean's face with barely restrained hunger. Jean didn't resist… not even when Rai shoved him back against the door, one hand on his waist, the other tangled in his hair.
Their mouths collided... hot, desperate, messy.
Tongues clashed. Fighting for dominance. And Rai won.
He pulled back just enough to see Jean's parted lips chasing his. Jean's eyes fluttered open, hazy, lost.
Rai: Come with me.
He didn't ask. He didn't wait. He just took Jean's hand and led him down the Hall… . through the half-life corridor, past flickering shadows… . until they reached Jean's single room.
The door clicked shut again. This time, without hesitation.
Jean didn't have time to speak. Rai's mouth was already on him… . again… devouring, tasting, claiming. Their shirts were gone within seconds, discarded somewhere between the doorway and the bed.
Rai pushed Jean gently onto the mattress, climbing over him like a storm held back.
Kisses rained down… along his jaw, his throat, the curve of his collarbone.
Fingers left faint bruises. Jean gasped, arching, eyes glazed, " More."
Rai paused. His breathing was ragged. His forehead pressed against Jean's as if grounding himself.
Rai: When you're sober.
Jean tried to argue, but Rai just kissed his forehead, then his temple, then curled beside him.
The silence between them was warm, laced with something tender.
Jean's eyes fluttered shut, murmuring something incoherent.
Rai stayed awake.
One arm wrapped around Jean's bare waist, the other resting behind his own head as he started at the ceiling.
He could still taste Jean. Still hear the echo of his voice. And it scared him.
Not the kiss. Not the heat.
But the truth underneath it all.
Because he hadn't meant to feel this much. Not for Jean. Not like this.
He glanced sideways, gaze softening.
Jean slept like someone who trusted completely.
Rai's thumb traced the edge of a fresh bite marks on Jean's neck… red, raw, real.
He whispered, " You're dangerous."
His arms wrapped around the boy who'd broken through every wall without even trying.