The evening air hung still and heavy, carrying the faint scent of motor oil that clung to the corners of the garage. Bright fluorescent lights cast long shadows across the concrete floor, seeping outside through a narrow crack in the door. The space felt suspended, as if time moved slower here, just out of step with the restless city beyond. Even the distant hum of Bangkok's traffic barely reached the metal door, leaving only the quiet, familiar presence of the garage to fill the silence.

Tay paused a few steps from the entrance, his gaze sweeping over everything. It has been a long time since he had been here. A wave of nostalgia washed over him as if the countless hours he had spent here belonged to another life entirely. It was surprising how badly he missed this place. But at the same time, it wasn't. In just a few years, the garage and people belonging here became his family.

"What are you waiting for?" Win asked, draping himself over Tay. "Missing your fancy hospital room already?"

Tay rolled his eyes. "The food wasn't too bad."

"Too bad?" he questioned with his eyebrow raised high. "I have seen your meals... they were even fancier than the room itself. Oh, dear... however shall you come back down to living amongst us mere mortals?"

"It wasn't that hard the first time around," Tay said with a slight sigh. "Although I didn't have to burn my bed."

Win burst out laughing. "How are you dealing with your brother – who, let's face it, looks very much like you – dating your nemesis? People might even think you're the one dating him... oh oh, identical twins have that thing where they feel the same things... does that mean you're into Sean, too? Was all that animosity just a cover?"

Tay took a deep breath and rubbed his forehead, counting in his mind to ten. Still, if looks could kill, Win would become a very amused pile of ashes.

"Jesus Fucking Christ, have you lost your damn mind," Tay hissed. "I would rather fucking die. Who would even want that asshole?"

His eyebrow cocked slightly. "Jay, clearly."

"I don't care what he does, don't try to drag me into it."

Win looked at him worriedly. "Are you sure about this? I thought you talked things over."

"A few conversations won't change anything, Win," Tay sighed helplessly. "We are strangers, and I don't think this will ever change. We can manage a civil conversation, but that's about it. Too much has happened... things you can't come back from. And, honestly? I was a complete asshole to him."

"Jay is much more understanding than you think."

Tay shook his head. "There is a difference between understanding and resignation."

Win looked at him in confusion, sensing that Tay was hinting at something deeper, something he had no right to pry into. Still, it felt wrong to stand by and watch two people he genuinely cared about end up like this.

"You could try to be something more than strangers," he insisted. "I don't know much details, but it seems like it wasn't your fault you lost contact with each other but your parents. Wouldn't staying like this mean they won?"

"They won the moment that woman walked out through the door, dragging Jay with her. Or maybe even sooner... after all, even our names show we were never meant to be close. He was always hers, and I was always... that bastard's. Whatever bound us back then, it couldn't stand up to everything that came after."

"You can't just give up now, Tay!" Win protested, tightly gripping his shoulders. "You clearly care bout him a lot, and Jay came all the way here to save your sorry ass. It must mean something. He even paid for your outrageously expensive hospital and security company."

Tay couldn't help but chuckle. "You do realise this was nothing for him, right? Basically, pocket change."

Win looked at him, speechless. "It's probably rude to ask. But how did you end on opposite sides of the spectrum?"

"When I chose to walk away from that bastard of a father, I forfeited everything that came with being his son – no allowance, no trust fund, no inheritance. I'm disowned, left with nothing but my own foolish pride," Tay said, realising it was the first time he had openly discussed his family with his closest friend. "Even as a small child, Jay was always more composed, measured, polite... must be his English upbringing. Anyway, I suppose he was smarter about it and didn't fight the current. And our mother's side of the family is far more affluent. He's their only heir."

Win stared at him wide-eyed. He never knew Tay came from such an affluent background, but there was something that stunned him even more. "Then why is he working so much?"

Tay shrugged. "Dunno, probably just likes it."

"There is something seriously wrong with your brother," Win deadpanned.

Tay sighed, his gaze shifting to the starless sky. "You know, sometimes I wonder if he will ever see me as his brother again. Jay doesn't seem like a person who holds onto things or people. I can understand why, but... I wish it wasn't like this. He deserved better," he added almost inaudibly, ignoring Win't questioning look, and walked inside.

It wasn't a surprise that the garage didn't change at all. Their lounge area was still the same, with worn-out sofas and a low coffee table. Shelves filled with supplies and tools, a perfectly organised chaos. Even Izzy tinkering with the engine felt like an unchanging constant.

Suddenly, Izzy looked up and grinned. "Finally fully up and running?" he said, wiping his hands with a flannel cloth. "You look much better than the last time I saw you."

Over the last month, Tay was finally allowed to leave the hospital to fully attend classes, only missing the first several weeks under the guise of recovering from an accident he suffered over the summer. Though he had made remarkable progress, he was still reacquainting himself with everyday movements. His hand occasionally shook when he wrote, and longer walks left his muscles aching in unfamiliar ways. It wasn't easy, but at least he was no longer confined to a hospital room.

"Took me long enough."

Izzy chuckled. "I can't argue with that... you all have been lucky to have someone to save your stubborn and prone to trouble asses."

"Oh? Do you have a hard time keeping up with us, old man?"

"If you weren't still in recovery, this old man would kick your ass," Izzy threatened playfully, tossing a dirty flannel at him. "Although it's good to know your smart mouth survived in perfect condition."

Win slouched back on the sofa, his arms stretched wide as he laughed. "Sooner hell will freeze over than he will lose his sassy attitude. Anyway, where are the others?"

"Fort went to help Sari bring everything so I can finish the job. Sean got held up at uni but should be here soon as well."

"Bring what?" Tay asked, confused.

Izzy chuckled, amazed Win actually managed to keep quiet about it. "Just a little celebration hot pot for a certain stubborn bastard who would die before selling out his friends."

Tay's smirk wavered, the usual sarcasm slipping as Izzy's words sank in. They were all here, not because they had brushed aside his mistakes but because they trusted him despite them. He knew he had almost cost them everything, yet he couldn't deny the relief that eased the guilt for trusting the wrong person. It felt strange that they would see loyalty instead of recklessness, almost too generous. His gaze dropped briefly before he forced the usual nonchalance back.

Before he could answer, the door slid open. Fort followed close behind Sari, carrying a large basket filled with neatly packed ingredients and utensils. Sari carefully placed the pot with broth on the coffee table. Its warmth and aroma filled the space as she arranged it on the induction cooker. Fort set the basket beside it, pulling out bundles of fresh vegetables, thinly sliced meats, and noodles, but soon Sari chased him away.

Fort smiled sheepishly and plopped on the sofa beside Win. They all knew better than to get in her way.

"Izzy, why Sean isn't here yet?" Win whined, looking greedily over the food Sari was arranging in front of them.

Izzy sighed. "He comes back late from uni recently."

"Uni? I thought he was doing an internship after classes."

Sari looked up from the table and smiled helplessly. "He does, but afterwards, Sean returns to university and volunteers at the pro bono clinic."

Win shook his head. "He never stands still, does he?"

Evening traffic crawled steadily along the packed streets, a slow river of red and white lights stretching into the distance. Motorbikes weaved deftly through the lanes, slipping between cars as they idled in the warm air. Neon signs from roadside shops cast muted colours over the congested roads, their reflections gliding over windshields and bouncing off rear-view mirrors.

Sean stopped his motorbike at the closed railway crossing as a faint hum of an approaching train reverberated in the distance. As he shifted his weight, he slipped one hand into his pocket, fishing out his phone. The message on the screen made him smile. They hadn't seen each other since his birthday. It had been over two months, and Sean missed him incredibly.

Jay

I have two weeks off around the New Year.

See you on the 27th.

Me

Really?!

Jay

Yes 😘

Do you want to go somewhere?

Sean

I didn't know you liked personal guided tours so much?

Jay

Nah, I'm more into the guide than the tour itself.

Sean

Smooth.

What about Khao Sok National Park?

We could get a floating lodge on Cheow Lan Lake.

And have sex most of the time...

Jay

I'm in.

Sean

I'm sure you will be 😏

The traffic resumed and Sean slid his phone into the pocket and sighed with frustration. He hadn't given it much thought before, but now he understood just how real sex deprivation could be. Wanting Jay so intensely, it practically hurt, yet knowing he couldn't have him was maddening in the truest sense... a constant need simmering beneath the surface. It left him feeling like some abandoned cocker spaniel at a motorway rest stop*, waiting pathetically for something just out of reach.

The only thing keeping his sanity in check was busyness. For the past two months, he had poured himself into a new project, a pro bono legal clinic he had pitched to the university. It was a simple but vital idea: offer legal support to those without means. LGBTQ individuals facing discrimination, and people struggling with housing and labour laws. In addition, under the mentorship of experienced lawyers and professors, students would gain practical skills while making a real difference.

His days became a blur of consultations, logistics, and meetings with the university board. The clinic was in its initial trial phase. It offered limited services as students transitioned from theory to the raw reality of people's struggles. While many found the support they had long lacked, for Sean, it was something that kept him grounded amid the frustrations and longing that filled his personal life.

Frustration that would probably escalate throughout the rest of the evening...

As Sean entered the garage, the familiar scent of grease and engine oil gave way to the rich broth aroma gently bubbling on the induction stove. Hints of ginger and garlic wafted through the air, completely transforming the space.

"You are late," Win complained, eagerly holding his chopsticks. "We were about to start without you."

Sean's gaze rested on a very familiar yet entirely different face, and he smirked. "Oh? Does it mean I will have to see your annoying ass every day now? Great..."

"It's not like I wanted to see you, asshole," Tay quipped back.

Fort sighed with amusement. "Some things never change."

"You know it's astonishing how they always instantly hated each other, while... ow," Win whimpered as Fort not so subtly kicked him in the ankle.

Izzy hid his amused smile behind the bottle of beer. It was as if nothing changed. Sean and Tay were bickering, as always. Win would add fuel to the fire while Fort tried to extinguish it. Yet something ended. With Chaiyawat behind bars, awaiting trial where everyone was determined to get the highest conviction, and Thanarak barely hanging, there was no need for their group. There were different ways they could help, less dangerous.

Sean rolled his eyes and took his usual seat on the smaller sofa. He was starving, and the spread was a feast for the senses, an aromatic invitation carried on waves of steam.

The pot, split into two simmering broths, sat in the centre of the coffee table. One side was dark and earthy, fragrant with herbs and dried jujubes; the other glowed golden, spiced with chillies and lemongrass, promising a slight heat. Around it lay thinly sliced marbled beef, ready to absorb the layered flavours, alongside fried fish cakes, bean curd, and noodles. Crisp water spinach, lotus roots, and mushrooms added a fresh splash of colour that drew the eyes. It all seemed to speak of warmth, comfort, and indulgence in layered flavours, unfolding slowly in every bite.

As the last of the food disappeared and only the faint steam from the broths remained, a pure satisfaction settled over the group. They all unanimously agreed that Sari had outdone herself this time.

"You are so lucky, Izzy," Win sighed, trying to stretch his overstuffed stomach. "Sari can be scary as hell, but this is worth it."

"Easy for you to talk. You don't deal with her scary side."

Sean rolled his eyes with amusement. "Sis isn't scary."

Izzy glared at him, his eyebrow cocked slightly. "Oh? So maybe I will stay here, and you will try living with her for a week? Lizzy is teething, and we barely get any sleep, so my dearest, sleep-deprived wife is currently a ticking time bomb."

"No, thanks," Sean instantly protested.

Tay sneered. "You can't even deal with a little child? Why I'm not surprised?"

Win and Fort exchanged a look that could be only described as 'here they go again' while Izzy shook his head. Some things truly never change.

"Oh? Are you volunteering yourself then?" Sean questioned him teasingly, barely looking up from his phone.

His nonchalant expression fell slightly as if he was surprised that Sean didn't even try to argue with him, but then he quickly regained composure. "Shouldn't we focus on what we will do next?"

"Next? What do you mean?" Win asked with slight confusion. "Shouldn't you focus on full recovery first?"

"I need something to do. Otherwise, I will lose my mind."

They could understand him. After months in a coma, followed by months in the hospital with rehabilitation as the main focus, Tay must have been feeling trapped and probably left out for far too long. It was natural he wanted to return to his usual plans to regain a sense of normalcy.

Sean finished typing a message and then looked at him. "Why not join the pro bono clinic at uni? I'm sure they will be happy to have someone with knowledge about corporate law. Plus, you could pick up extra credit you missed out on last year."

Now, Tay was rendered speechless. "Are you planning to let Thanarak off the hook so you can get extra credit? Are you fucking kidding me?"

"Chaiyawat will drag him down to get a lesser sentence. There is no need for us to risk anything," Sean said calmly. "And it's not just about extra credit but helping people who can't afford help in the way they need the most."

"Wasn't that what we were doing?"

"Be realistic, Tay," Sean sighed. "The risk we were taking wasn't proportionate to the result, and it hardly made any difference for people around here. No matter what we did, Chaiyawat hushed it out. We walked in circles, blind to things that could make a difference without getting us killed."

Tay scowled, looking at him with disdain. "What is this really about?"

"Harsh reality," Sean shrugged. "Besides, do we really need to sneak around and risk our lives doing something illegal? How long before doing what's right turns into a necessary evil, getting us so close to their level that we're practically playing the same game?"

"I see... you wouldn't want to stain your record and lose a shot at the heir to the British aristocracy," Tay hissed with disgust.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Tay laughed at Sean's confusion, his voice full of mockery. "You don't know what your boyfriend is, do you? That's hilarious. Do you even know his actual name?" he sneered, masking his concern beneath a scornful expression. After everything their mother put Jay through, he wouldn't let anyone take advantage of him. "But why bother with the details when all that matters is his net worth, right? He's got to be worth at least forty million, probably five times that once dear mother kicks the bucket. Yeah, I can see why you'd sell yourself like a little whore."

Everyone froze, their eyes shifting between Sean and Tay as if bracing for a nuclear explosion. This tension surpassed their usual bickering, and Izzy was half convinced that this time, Sean might just turn Tay into a wet stain on the floor.

But to their surprise, Sean sighed heavily and calmly looked at Tay. "Are you really trying to put a price tag on your own brother just to get under my skin? Have you lost your mind?" he asked with such chilling calmness that Tay flinched. "This isn't about who he is. It's about me not wanting to see him hurt again because of my recklessness or forcing him to save our asses time and time again because neither of us stops to think twice before jumping headfirst into whatever mess we are up to."

Tay didn't look convinced and seemed ready to argue, but Fort placed a hand on his shoulder, halting him. "Sean has a point. You have no idea how hard it was for us to come to terms with the fact that you nearly died. If it hadn't been for Jay, you wouldn't be here. Yet, we chose to keep going, but then Sean nearly lost his life, and we put Jay in the position of having to save him, too. Of course, we didn't stop there, and we ended up in prison. Guess who had to bail us out again? It's unfair for us to keep exploiting his connections and resources like this, Tay. We need to build our own from the ground."

Win nodded in agreement. "If we continue like this, it won't end well. I know all of this is sudden for you, and it feels like we are betraying everything we stood for, but I would rather find a different way than lose my best friend because we chose to be stubborn."

Tay remained silent for a long moment, unable to argue against them. Deep down, he knew they were right. The same as he knew Sean didn't give a damn about Jay's wealth but seemed to genuinely care about him. Still, the sudden changes were unsettling, like returning home only to realise he might lose it all again. Just then, Win draped himself over him with a wide grin.

"This means we will have more time to hang out here for fun instead of plotting our untimely demise," he said, his usual cheerfulness cutting through the tension. "Plus, it would be great if you could help me manage our Instagram account, and we could volunteer at the law clinic together so you know I can fend off potential girlfriends wherever you go."

Fort faceplamed. "Are you trying to force him into being single with you?"

"I'm just not ready to share yet."

Sean laughed, watching Tay struggle to peel Win off. "Yeah, good luck with that."

Author's note:

*My thanks to Rin for this brilliant metaphor for poor sulking Sean. I absolutely love it ❤