(Humming)
Rrrrr….
As Phayu's humming ended, the razor also cleanly shaved his jaw, touching his skin. He was quite proud of himself. Suddenly, he pressed his hands against the mirror and lifted his head.
"I am handsome today… haha…" he laughed in his heart.
Slam!
"Phayu…"
"Phayu…"
The voice from outside the bathroom interrupted him. Bothered, Phayu opened the door to ask why. There, Lamon was waiting for him with a phone.
"What's your problem, Lamon?"
"He wasn't taking my call…"
Lamon voice turned cold. "What if someone kidnapped him… Ugh…" Panic entered his eyes. "What if someone hit him…"
"Ohhh…" Phayu yelled. "Mok is not a kid. My God, give me time to at least admire my own beauty."
Shutting the door, Phayu went back to his business, and Lamon gritted his teeth, looking at Toffee, who had been on a call for hours.
"No one is normal…" muttering under his breath, Lamon tried to call Mok again.
Since last night, he had thought that even if it was late, Mok would come back. But even after Lamon woke up, Mok wasn't in the room as usual. Now, he was a little worried.
'Where is he?'
"It was ringing, but he wasn't answering."
Sigh!
"Let's try again after some time."
…
Buzzz…
On a glass table, a phone had been buzzing, disturbing the silence.
Hush… hush…
A small breath brushed past Mok's cheeks.
Feeling the warmth, Mok shifted in his sleep. His heavy eyelids, which were too tired, slowly opened.
'Where am I?'
That was the first thing that came into his mind.
And all he could see was Ren sleeping peacefully beside him.
'Am I in his condo?'
But the wall and the rare artistic painting hanging on it felt unfamiliar to him.
Jumping in panic, Mok pressed his head.
'Damn the hangover. What did I drink yesterday?'
His eyes wandered for answers, trying to recall what had happened yesterday. He could only remember that he had drunk, wanted to vomit, and someone had caught him before he fell.
'I can't remember...'
With heavy steps, Mok searched for the door.
'Where the hell is this?'
The large hallway had several rooms separated by walls, with big couches inside. Mok and Ren were at the end of that hallway, asleep on the couch, with a table in the middle.
'We're still in the bar...'
For the VIP guests, they served people here. Though there were no doors, no one knew what was talked about or what happened beyond those walls. It was a kind of place everyone tried not to get involved in. For the rich, they had many playthings, but for normal people, it was unacceptable.
Mok hated it. He was sure nothing good came from this kind of place.
When he was about to exit, a person called him from behind.
"Oh, you're awake."
Her voice startled Mok, making him freeze between the entrance and the hallway. Her heels clicked as she approached him.
Mok swallowed.
"Swadee khap," he greeted normally, but that woman did nothing. Instead, she guided him forcefully into a room.
'Boss… why do I want to see him?'
That woman said her boss wanted to see him and had even instructed her to watch the two boys.
He was getting a bad feeling.
Sigh!
Passing the heavy curtains of the separate spaces along the hallway, the staff who were cleaning here and there greeted the woman, but she wasn't very pleasant.
Knock! Knock!
Near the opposite end of that serving hallway, there was a room that was heavily guarded.
When no response came, the woman barged inside with an annoyed face.
"Boss, here he is. I'm going back to sleep. Don't even think you can call me."
It looked like Mok and Ren had disturbed her sleep.
That man chuckled, giving her permission before taking off his round glasses, which he had only worn to read documents. He placed them on top of a document, while the steam and smell of fresh coffee beans filled the room from the cup.
"Do you want…?"
Maybe his staring was too much, because even that man asked Mok directly.
"No…" Mok shook his head.
"Make one coffee for him."
"No, I don't…"
That man didn't hear him. No, he didn't care. Whatever, it was better to drink and go back to the dorm. Mok crawled with all kinds of thoughts, but when that man gave him permission to sit, he was slightly scared by the intimidating voice.
"You were too clingy yesterday..."
Mok paused as he was about to sit on the chair, then smiled awkwardly.
"... Crying and trying to cuddle me…"
He wanted to jump out of that man's window behind him.
"Sorry, khap…"
"Haha… interesting… Actually, I hate being touched by others, so I almost thought of cutting your arms off."
Gulp!
When the cup of coffee came, that very fresh scent of beans became unbearable in a terrible way, and the tension in the room was eating him up.
"You can go now, and… take that one also... Your friend..."
Mok tilted his head and tried to head out but was stopped by the man because he hadn't drunk that coffee. The man didn't let Mok go until the last drop was gone. Because it was hot, Mok couldn't swallow it all at once. And the gaze of that man pierced into Mok.
"Not bad," that man muttered.
'Huh?'
...
Clank!
'I am saved.'
Mok struggled to walk. It was like his legs were stubborn and refused to listen to him.
And he didn't know how a tasty coffee had turned out like that, and his tongue couldn't feel anything. Maybe it was because he had drunk it like cold water.
'How did I get involved with someone like him?'
'He really looks like a thug.'
Black suits that seemed made only for him, the scars on his hands, and even those eyes that hesitated at nothing…
'Huh… breathe…'
'Damn Ren, I am not going to forgive you…'
Not even knowing what was happening, Ren was sleeping like a baby after all the crying.
…
"Daiki-san… I already arranged a taxi for them…"
A tall, well-built man bowed and left after passing on the message.
Planning to take a small stroll, that boss went out. For the night, the bar needed to start getting prepared from the morning. Everyone bowed to their boss, wishing him a good day.
"Good morning, Boss…"
"Boss, do you want to…?"
Smiling, that man responded before he pressed the green button of a familiar number.
"You finally called," Daiki said.
"What about him?"
"Already on your way back? When will you get there?"
"Probably tonight. The flight is delayed."
The man halted, and his expression became serious as he spoke.
"When are you coming back?"
Silence!
"Kao… I am asking you as your older brother. When are you planning to come back?"
"I still have so many things to do…"
[Flight number…]
[To Mexico…]
[Gate number…]
The announcement rushed through the phone and into the ears of Daiki.
"Don't get hurt, Kao."
"I will not."
Beep!
Kao hung up the phone, took a deep breath, and gave his boarding pass to the staff.
Minutes after an announcement, the plane took off. From the small window, he could see the city blooming in the sun.
...
A day before, Kao had been in Japan, visiting his maternal family to see his grandfather's older brother…
The white smoke from the cigarettes filled the air.
The smell was bearable for now, but Kao had no interest in the people discussing his grandfather's assets or the promising candidates for his marriage so they could use them to form new connections.
"Haha… He's already this grown…"
"What about my granddaughter?"
Well, they were not the real head of this family, so he ignored them.
Suddenly, everyone became silent.
An old man in a black yukata sat in an advanced wheelchair that moved automatically. From behind, two well-built guards accompanied him.
At the big table, more than fifty people were seated on both sides. Everyone stood, respecting that wrinkled old man in the wheelchair.
"Mmh… Finally, you came." (In Japanese)
The voice and look were still fierce toward others.
An old lion was still a lion, they all thought.
"He is one of my children, so why is everyone interested in him?"
As the old man finally asked, the people surrounding Kao understood it as a warning: never get involved with what the old lion has his eyes on.
Kao bowed his head into a prostration, his head hitting the floor.
"Please help me…" (In Japanese)
That old man's lips curved into an amused smile.
"Do you want to deal with your father's people on this side, or do you want to deal…?"
"Only from Japan…"
"Oho… so you already have a plan."
"Okay, let's do it, but what will I get from it?"
That old man was only two years older than his grandfather. Blood is thicker than water. His grandfather had always told him that. Seeing that man now, Kao noticed he had no different features from his grandfather. Unlike his grandfather's warmth, this old man was materialistic and selfish.
'Straight to the point… as expected from him.'
Giving the documents he had prepared in a hurry with only limited time, Kao waited.
"That's it…" the old man scoffed.
"Major construction and all the other businesses directly inherited as assets from my grandfather, including the 22% shares of the main family. I gave everything. Sorry to say, I have nothing except this."
Unbothered by it, the old man told his secretary to check it. After getting clarification from the lawyer as well, the old man finally muttered.
"Do you really need to go this far…?"
"That..." Kao searched for words.
"Your father's family is like frogs in a well. Dealing with them is easier than taking a bath."
Easier, for this man, it must be. Money alone couldn't achieve everything. Connections were what made everything successful. For his plan, he needed to block every way of escape for his dear father.
'Wait for me, Father. My final gift will be delivered soon…'
"Kawin..."
"Yes."
"You truly have no interest in the main family business."
"Yes…"
"Mmh… you are my only remaining blood relative from my brother. Stay here one more day."
He didn't respond, and the old man somehow understood his quietness.
...
In the middle of the traditional house, there was a beautifully maintained garden. Even a butterfly needed permission to fly.
'It's still beautiful...'
He had been here only twice. Most of the time, he came to Japan because of his father's family. From bullying to pranks that injured him, everything was still carved deep inside his heart.
His grandfather had told him, "Don't let grudges stay longer in one mind. Don't live for revenge; it's meaningless."
But he didn't want a life like that. The suffering, the rain he spent outside while looking at his mother's room, and his brother's final moments strangled him every time he tried to sleep.
Nothing… nothing was natural.
A well-planned murder, a well-planned execution.
He was not going to forgive anyone, not the servants, not his stepmother, and not his cold, bastard father.
'Proving worth, you say. Until now, I played as a piece of chess on your board, but it's so sad that you are playing on the board I created.'
Buzz…
Thanks to the phone, he snapped out of his countless thoughts.
He checked it. It was a message from Daiki.
After reading it, he wasn't that pleased to join the dinner arranged by that old man. Excusing himself with petty reasons, Kao ran as if he were holding his whole world and it would fall apart the moment he closed his eyes.
It was a clear day, but by the time he got to Thailand, it was already late.
'We Line Bar.'
Not even giving the driver a chance to open his car door or escort him, Kao sprinted inside. His bodyguards were a bit scared. It was their first time seeing Kao like this.
'What's going on…?'
They all had the same thought.
Panting, Kao wiped his sweat. The packed pub annoyed him, and a surge of anger formed inside him.
"Kao…"
He turned.
"Daiki…"
"You are really here, just because I informed you that your lover would be here today."
Grabbing Daiki by the collar, Kao was ready to throw his fists.
"Calm down... Kao.."
"...I mean, Young Master…"
Stroking his hair back, Kao asked in a serious tone, "Is he still here? But why did you let him enter a place like this?"
"Oh, I'm a little hurt. How can you say that when you manage this pub? Forget it." Daiki averted his gaze. "He was in the private washroom."
Amid the music and dancing people, Kao hurried, but as he got closer, his steps became more hesitant.
…
"Aren't you going inside?"
Daiki had already blocked anyone from coming there. In fact, everyone knew Mok, from the bartender to the guards at the front of the bar.
"Kao… if you are scared, I can help him."
"No…" He glared at Daiki. "No one can touch him…"
"I got it, I got it…" (In Japanese)
"What did I do in my past life to get tangled up with kids like him?" Muttering and cursing himself, Daiki stepped out.
Left alone, Kao gulped.
Thud!
At the sound, Kao thought Mok had tripped and barged inside in a panic.
Meanwhile, Mok was barely able to keep his balance and almost hit his head on the sink.
The Mok he knew was bright as a star he watched from afar.
"Mok..."
Now, he was dim because of the dark clouds, and the brightest star was unseen by Kao.
"Mok…" His voice was low.
"D-don't… touch me..."
Holding his waist, Kao traced Mok's swollen eyes.
"Mok…"
"H-hurt…"
Kao lowered himself to hear what Mok was saying.
"H-hurt…"
"H… hurt… You hurt somewhere? Where? Let me see."
But before Kao could check, Mok blocked his mouth with both hands.
"What's wrong…?"
"Pu…I…"
...
Blah…
Pat! Pat! Kao patted him continuously.
"Kao… hurt…"
"Sorry... I'll be gentle. Let's get up. You need to drink some water."
"No..."
Huh?
"How about I take you…?"
"No… sniff…"
"Sniff! I will forgive you…"
Mok's head dropped a bit. Tears gathered at the corners of his eyes, slowly soaking his cheeks.
"Why are you crying?" Kao couldn't bear to see it.
"Sniff! ...will forgive you…"
Locking his hands over Kao's shoulders, their eyes remained fixed on each other.
Even that damp floor was forgotten by them.
"Kao… I hate you… but…" He hit Kao's chest again and again. "But… don't leave me… don't…"
His head slowly descended to Kao's neck.
"Don't..."
Mok slept more peacefully, cradled by Kao's warmth.
"Who said I will leave you…?"
Kao breathed against Mok's hair.
"Just a little more… just a little…"
"Wait for me…"