Sean's studio was nestled above the garage. It was a cramped space, its narrowness accentuated by its low, slanting ceiling. As the night enveloped it, it seemed to close in even further.

The loft, accessible by a narrow set of stairs, was a place where every inch mattered. The walls were thin, allowing distant sounds to permeate the space easily, a constant reminder of the bustling world outside. Dim light seeped through the tiny window, casting eerie shadows that danced upon the room's modest furnishings and his furrowed eyebrows.

A double bed stretched from one wall to another, taking the whole back of the room. The bedding was rumpled as Sean tossed and turned, trapped in a recurring nightmare. A small shelf, cluttered with an assortment of books, occupied the wall at the foot of the bed. A simple wooden desk stood nearby, with a few worn notebooks and scattered pens, evidence of late-night study. A chest of drawers and a few hangers on the wall provided the essentials for his daily life, including his uniform shirts.

A narrow door led to a tiny bathroom, where the mirror reflected the dim glow of the lone light bulb overhead. Despite the constraints, the space was relatively clean, a testament to Sean's determination to make the best of what he had.

The silence of the night was broken by Sean's restless groan. He often found himself trapped in the clutches of haunting nightmares, vivid echoes of his tumultuous past. His strained and barely audible voice muttered incoherent words, a jumble of phrases. The beads of sweat mixed with a tear trickling down his cheek as his whole body tensed. Images of fire and distant screams flickered through his troubled dreams, the acrid smell of smoke lingering in the air. His fingers clutched the sheets as if he tried to anchor himself in the midst of a blaze, but nothing seemed to be able to ease his torment.

Tired eyes slowly opened to a blaring alarm sweeping over the still-dark room. With a quiet sigh, Sean ran his fingers through his hair, his expression slipping into his usual conceited nonchalance. A perfectly composed mask, hiding more secrets than he could remember. He stumbled out of bed straight into a cold shower, his mind already focused on today's exam, determined to leave the fiery memories of that night behind.

It didn't take long for him to resurface from the bathroom, fully awake and with a towel wrapped around his waist. The small electronic clock displayed a time that most of the world would consider the middle of the night, but Sean had more important things on his mind than sleep. He slipped into comfortable clothes – joggers and a washed-out t-shirt – and sunk into a chair by his desk, full of textbooks and notes. Half of them focused on the essay he was working on, and the other covered materials for his exam. It was a topic that hit too close to home, related to access to justice in marginalised communities. It was eye-opening.

His focus always revolved around low-income families and migrant workers as vulnerable to exploitation and human rights abuses, but now he realised how much broader the issue was. He never considered how often members of the LGBTQ community faced difficulties in various aspects of their lives.

As he pored over cases related to discrimination in employment, healthcare, housing, and family law, he began to see the significant barriers to justice that LGBTQ people encountered due to the lack of comprehensive anti-discrimination laws and limited legal recognition for same-sex couples. It made him realise that the intersection of human rights and social justice issues in Bangkok was even more complex than he had initially thought.

He slowly began to see that it wasn't just business tycoons oppressing their workers but so many more things were fundamentally wrong around him. It was overwhelming and began to pull him away from his goal... from the only thing that should matter to him.

With a heavy sigh, Sean pushed away from the desk and stepped outside his studio to a small kitchenette at the back of the garage. It wasn't much, but it was enough for him to make a simple breakfast or heat up takeaway leftovers.

"You look like shit," a playful voice called out behind him.

"Fuck you, Izzy," Sean quipped back at him, his voice betrayed another sleepless night. "You could at least make me coffee and breakfast."

"Do I look like your maid?"

Sean spun around and looked at him, utterly terrified. "Oh god, no... that will give me a new set of nightmares."

"Perfect, haunting your dreams was one of my life goals," Izzy chuckled, pouring two cups of coffee. "How's your study session? I assume it goes well since your public enemy no.1 was gone the whole week."

He rolled his eyes with annoyance. "And you just had to bring him up?"

"Why not?" Izzy shrugged playfully, but his gaze remained stern. "Whatever your issue with him is, you need to put it aside for the sake of the whole group."

"Why not go and preach it to that asshole, hm?"

Izzy sighed and shook his head with amusement. "I figured I have better chances with my stubborn little brother," he replied, ruffling Sean's hair.

Sean rolled his eyes and pushed away his hand. "Whom are you calling your little brother, huh?! Besides, I'm too busy for this shit. If I fail this exam, they might cut my scholarship."

Izzy raised an eyebrow, his eyes reflecting genuine concern. "Cut your scholarship? Why would they do that? Your grades have always been top-notch."

Sean leaned back on the wall, his expression troubled. "It's not just about my grades. I heard some rumours that they're reviewing scholarships and financial aid. To get coverage of all expenses, you must have a permanent address and proper living arrangements. You know, the usual bureaucracy."

Izzy frowned, realising the gravity of the situation. "This is not exactly what they consider suitable, is it?"

Sean shook his head. "No, it's not. That's the problem. I've been skating on thin ice, but if they decide that my scholarship will only cover tuition, I won't be able to survive even with you letting me live here."

His concern deepened, and he put a reassuring hand on Sean's shoulder. "We'll figure this out, Sean. We'll find a way to make it work. You're too close to your degree to let something like this hold you back."

Sean nodded, appreciating the support. "I hope you're right. But for now, I need to focus on acing this exam to prove to them that I deserve that scholarship, garage or not," he added, heading back to his room.

"Hey!" Izzy called after him. "Even if they cut your living expenses, you will be fine. I won't leave you alone with it, do you understand?"

Sean stopped and looked at him with an unreadable expression. "You are already doing more than you can, Izzy. We both know you can't afford to support me more than this."

Izzy grinned at him in response. "You focus on studies and leave the bills to your amazing older brother. No arguments."

"Izzy..."

"Which part of 'no arguments' you didn't get, huh?" he said sternly, his gaze leaving no room for discussion. "You are too smart to fail so close to the finish line because of bureaucracy. This degree is your ticket out of this place, Sean. A way to do so much more than sneaking around at night trying to wrestle any advantage you can. But you need to stop living in the past and look at the big picture. This is about much more than what happened to your parents, Sean. We can't change the past, but you can make sure something like this will never happen again. Think about it, okay?"

Sean nodded almost imperceptibly, yet he couldn't just agree and burden him even more. "You have a lot on your plate already, Izzy. If you spend too much time worrying about me instead of your dearest wife, Sari will kick you out."

"She already did," he laughed fondly. "Currently, I'm breathing too loud... actually I'm not sure if I will survive the last few weeks. Everything annoys her, and little one moves so much she can't sleep."

"See? You should focus on her, not me," Sean replied triumphantly.

"Actually, Sari sent me here to ensure you had proper breakfast before the exam. Here," he added, extending a hand with a paper bag. "She made you sandwiches for later, claiming you forget about the whole world when you study so much. And as you know, I wouldn't dare to argue with her."

Sean hesitated, unsure if he should take it and rely on them more than he already does. The truth was that even with a scholarship, he was struggling as the hospital that treated his mother saddled him with her medical bills. Paying it back ate most of his monthly living allowance, but this was his problem, not theirs, especially now when their first child was about to be born. Suddenly, Izzy pushed the bag with sandwiches into his hand.

"Stop whatever you are thinking," he said, looking him straight in the eyes. "We may not be blood-related, but you always will be my little brother. And Sari thinks the same. You are part of our family, which makes your problems our problems. Do you understand?" he asked, emphasising every word.

Sean swallowed the lump in his throat and mumbled a quick 'thank you' before disappearing into his room. He appreciated Izzy's words more than he could express, but he also didn't want to be a constant source of worry for them or overstay his welcome.

As he reviewed his notes, Sean couldn't help but reflect on his situation. He was relieved that Izzy and Sari didn't consider him a burden but a part of their family. Their support had been his lifeline during the most challenging moments. But deep inside, he carried the weight of his own pride, not wanting to rely on anyone for his problems. He remained determined to overcome every obstacle on his own, to prove that he could stand on his own two feet and build a future that his parents would have been proud of.

The sun slightly dipped behind the horizon, painting the sky above the bustling city in enchanting red and pink hues as a group of students poured through the main entrance. Most of them discussed their exam, some looking utterly devastated, some confident and relieved. Sean definitely belonged to the second group. Yet, the exam left him in a contemplative mood. It didn't change the fact that he joined SWIFT for personal reasons, but he could no longer deny that the issue was much bigger than himself. The questions he just answered forced him to reevaluate his stance. To see people he didn't notice before.

Suddenly, a familiar figure entered his vision, instigating an instant annoyance. Sean paused, his gaze involuntarily following Tay's confident strides. A puzzled frown crept onto his face as he couldn't help but wonder if Tay had always carried himself with such a sense of borderline nonchalance. It was as if nothing in the world could ruffle his feathers.

Then, just as Sean was about to look away, a girl suddenly gripped Tay's arm, bringing him to an abrupt stop. Sean couldn't help but notice a subtle flicker of annoyance on his otherwise perfectly composed and indifferent face. It was unusual because Tay was known for his playful and flirtatious façade, always hanging out with a girl or two. This encounter seemed different, and Sean found it rather bizarre.

Even more surprisingly, before he could fully process what was happening, Win appeared out of nowhere. He gently but firmly peeled the girl away from Tay, creating a small scene in the process.

"He's mine today!" Win exclaimed, inserting himself between them. "Stop hoarding my best friend to yourself all the time!"

"W-what...?" the girl sputtered in shock before recovering from it and shifting to the attack. "Who the hell are you to get in the way?!"

"THE BEST FRIEND who made plans with him first."

"Too bad," she laughed mockingly, fluttering her eyelashes at Jay. "The potential girlfriend always comes first."

Jay leaned over Win's shoulder with a faint, amused smile and looked straight at her. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, sweetheart," he began, his voice alluring and silky like a liquid gold. "But I've always found bitches who spread their legs upon first meeting rather uninspiring. You see, it's the ones who act a tad more... scared before getting devoured that truly pique my interest."

The girl's face flushed with embarrassment and anger, but his response effectively silenced her. With a huff, she spun around and stormed off without looking back at totally unaffected Jay and hollering with laughter Win.

Meanwhile, Sean watched the scene with his jaw somewhere on the ground. He genuinely didn't see it coming. When did Tay become so sassy? He couldn't help but be impressed by the artful way Tay had just shut down the girl's advances with that sly, backhanded remark. There was a certain elegance to it, an effortless grace that Sean found quite intriguing.

His gaze briefly met the amused brown eyes, and Sean instantly scolded himself for admiring in any way that annoying asshole before disappearing into the crowd.

By the time Sean left the library, the sun had long retired beneath the horizon, yielding its dominion to the shimmering cityscape, where the first flickers of the bustling nightlife had come to life. His bike zoomed through the busy streets with ease, letting his thoughts flow. His mind was still occupied with his morning talk with Izzy... with looking at the bigger picture.

Sean knew it was never black and white, no matter how badly he wanted it to be. Making it all about revenge sustained him for so long that he couldn't just let go now. Not when that night was still so vivid in his memories... when he could still feel the heat of roaring flames and hear their anguished screams. But maybe they could do more... he could do more...

Lost in thoughts, he stopped at a small convenience store to pick up his dinner. Sean was so lost in thoughts as he wandered between shelves, looking for instant noodles, that he didn't even notice rowdy teenagers following someone outside the store. Sean finally picked up a few items, and after a brief chat with the familiar cashier, he left the store, grocery bag in hand.

He strolled toward his motorbike when mocking laughter, cruel insults, and a quiet, pleading voice reached his ears from the nearby car park. Sean peaked around the corner to witness a girl, with her short hair and petite frame, dressed in the boys' school uniform, surrounded by the group of tormentors. She looked overwhelmed and vulnerable, with tears shining in her eyes. Her shirt was dishevelled, exposing an elastic bandage wrapped tightly around her chest.

The high school students taunted her mercilessly. They hurled hurtful slurs related to her identity. Their actions were degrading and intended to strip her of dignity, leaving her in a humiliating position. It wasn't hard to figure out that this was a transsexual person bullied by his classmates. All of Sean's doubts and confusion about his goals instantly dispersed. He stepped in, his grip firm on the arm of a teenage boy who was about to strike his victim.

"What do you think you are doing?" Sean asked, his voice full of silent ferocity as he glared at the group.

"We are just teaching this freak a lesson," the boy replied, others supporting him. "Mind your own business."

Sean stood his ground, his gaze moving from one bully to the next. His voice remained icy but filled with authority. "A lesson, you say? Well, you all are about to learn one yourself."

Dark eyes pierced through the group like shards of ice. His grip on the boy's arm tightened, and his aura grew colder, sending nasty shivers down their spines. A few students took a hesitant step back.

"Oh? Too scared to pick up on someone your own size?"

The group exchanged nervous glances, their arrogance waning as they realised he had the means to back up his threat. The boy Sean was holding tried to squirm free, but his grip remained unyielding.

"Let me make this clear," he continued, each word cutting through the tension in the air. "If I ever catch your pathetic asses near him, you'll be dealing with consequences you can't even imagine. Do you understand, or is it above your comprehension level?"

Slowly but surely, they began to disperse, leaving the trans boy alone, trembling but no longer in immediate danger.

His stance softened as he turned to the high schooler. "Are you okay?" he asked, his tone gentler.

"Y-yes..." the boy muttered, sliding down the wall.

"You sure?" Sean inquired, crouching in front of him. Then, he offered him a bottle of iced tea. "Here."

He tried to refuse at first, but something about his saviour made him feel comfortable... safe. Suddenly, the dam burst, and he broke into tears. Unsure what to do, Sean sat on the ground beside him and leaned on the wall to offer a silent comfort.

"W-why did y-you help me?" the teenager hiccupped, looking at him questioningly. His voice and body were still trembling, carrying visible traces of panic and insecurity.

"It was the right thing to do," Sean replied with a casual shrug. "Does it happen often?"

"Almost every day," he answered, feeling more comfortable with him around. "Sometimes, it hurts so much I don't want to go to school, but I don't want to disappoint my parents or my brother any further. They already have a hard time because of me."

"I don't know your family, but they often care about us more than we think, even if we don't care ourselves," Sean said, thinking about Izzy and Sari. "It's okay to come to them with your problems now and then, especially when it's hard."

The boy shook his head. "I can't! My brother would go fighting everyone and get into trouble. He could get expelled from university because of me."

"Your brother must care about you a lot," he commented. "Wouldn't having someone like him on your side be great? I'm sure he will listen if you explain what is happening and help you the way you need it."

"But he has rarely been home recently, too busy with studies and work. I can't burden him with my problems on top of it."

Sean laughed and ruffled his hair. "I get where you are coming from. I also have a busy older brother who constantly worries about me, but that's how they are. You can't fight it," he added, standing up and offering him a hand. "No older brother wants to see their little brother struggling. It's their job to keep us safe."

He hesitated but eventually took his hand, allowing Sean to pull him up from the ground. His expression was a mix of surprise and gratitude. The way this complete stranger treated him was a stark contrast to the cruelty he faced daily from his peers, who often treated him as a "freak" because he couldn't accept a female body. No one understood his disgust and hatred towards it. How badly he wanted it to match with who he was. But this person didn't seem to mind his appearance and acted as if he was perfectly normal. It gave him hope, and for the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of acceptance.

"Thank you," he replied, voice still shaky but with a hint of newfound strength. "I'm not sure if I'm ready to talk to him, but I will try."

"People can surprise you when you least expect it. And hey, you're not alone in this. There are people out there who will support you for who you are. Don't let the bullies define you. You're strong, and you'll get through this."

The boy looked at Sean and smiled faintly in agreement before disappearing into the darkness of the night.

For a long time, Sean just stood there looking after him, letting everything sink in. Reading study cases wasn't nearly as impactful as experiencing one. To see this raw pain and vulnerability in someone so young was heartbreaking, forcing him to see past his revenge to the bigger picture.