A/N: Hi everyone! I updated the dossier file for characters with all SWIFT members, including Tina's, if you want to check them out. Thank you for your support.

The memory of the impromptu meeting with Tay lingered in Sean's mind, a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit the image of his supposed nemesis. As he strolled across the campus the next day, the humidity of early March still clinging to the air, Sean couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. But it was soon buried under the remnants of the previous day's stress. After all, a solid plan didn't mean a finished essay, and the deadline was tomorrow.

Sean settled into a quiet corner of the library, fingers poised over the keyboard, ready to finally finish his assignment. Yet, as he stared at the screen, the words seemed to blur, replaced by that disarming one-sided smile. Sean shook his head in disbelief, trying to banish the distracting image. "What the fuck is wrong with me?" he muttered under his breath.

He glanced around as if expecting someone to jump out and confirm the absurdity of his inner turmoil. It made no sense. Tay was supposed to be the thorn in his side, not a lingering presence in his thoughts. The abrupt shift in his behaviour, from insolent to oddly helpful, had left Sean bewildered. 'It's just one moment,' he reasoned with himself, fingers tapping absentmindedly on the keyboard. 'One moment of him not being a complete arse. Doesn't change anything. I still hate him, don't I?'

Yet, as he tried to refocus on the essay, he couldn't escape the nagging question: why did Tay's sudden change bother him so much? It was almost as if he got an unexpected glimpse behind the arrogant mask, and what he found there was entirely different than he could possibly expect.

"He's just playing games," Sean mumbled in a half-hearted attempt to reassure himself. "Urgh, I don't have time for this shit."

With a frustrated sigh, Sean forced his attention back to the essay. The library's silent ambience became the backdrop to his determined focus. His fingers glided over the keyboard, words flowing steadily as he shaped his ideas into a coherent argument. The alluring smile faded into the recesses of his mind as the satisfying click of the final keystroke marked the completion of his assignment.

"Oh! There you are!"

The librarian instantly glared at them. Win smiled sheepishly in apology, but she only shook her head with annoyance. He had been on thin ice with her since the first year, and it didn't seem things would change any time soon.

"You really do have only one over-the-top mode, don't you?" Sean chuckled.

"Hey! I'm plenty mature and quiet," he argued, but another glare seemed to only confirm his companion's words.

"Yeah, right," Sean teased, wondering if Win knew anything about Tay's unusual behaviour. "Where is your annoying other half?"

"Busy with work," he replied, glad Sean brought Jay up, giving him an opportunity to check if he was suspicious of him after yesterday. "Why? Do you miss him?"

"The hell would sooner freeze over, but I do owe him for a few tips with my assignment, and unlike that asshole, I know to repay my debts."

Win made the most shocked face he could muster. "Wait, wait, wait! Your sworn enemy helped you? Impossible!"

"He offered it out of nowhere, and honestly? I need to give him that: Tay knew what he was talking about," Sean huffed, showing how hard it was for him to admit it. "Don't you think he acts a bit odd recently? Like not himself?"

"Tay? Nope, still the same grumpy ass," Win laughed. "Maybe slightly toned down after everything that happened recently. I guess it got him thinking, reconsider some things and ensure we don't risk innocent lives. That woman nearly died because of his idea, Sean. I know you see him as an annoying asshole, but he does care, and things like this get to him."

"I did not see it coming," Sean muttered.

"Because all you do is fight with him, and neither of you sees the person behind the insults," he shrugged. "It amusing how little you two know about each other after years in the same group."

"Maybe you are right," Sean sighed. After spending some time with Tay without insulting each other, they seemed to get along pretty well. "I guess you know him better than anyone."

"That's given," Win grinned. "Besides, he feels a bit bad about the factory."

"I find it hard to believe it," he protested. "Besides, it wasn't his fault. He might have been an a-hole about it, but they were waiting for us. The way they swarmed and chased after both of us was too well executed. We are both lucky we got out without a scratch."

His eyebrows furrowed worriedly as he realised the gravity of Sean's explanations. Earlier, he didn't pay that much attention to it since both of them were fine, but now, knowing the truth, Win was more inclined to agree with Sean. But if they were ambushed, someone must have betrayed them. But who? It couldn't be anyone from the group... but who else could know about their plans? They never talked about it outside the garage. Win swallowed hard. Just in what they got themselves into? And what did he drag Jay into?

"Do you have any suspicions about what happened? Did someone learn what we are doing?"

Sean shook his head and indicated they should continue their conversation outside.

The late afternoon sun draped Bangkok in a warm, golden hue, casting elongated shadows across the university campus. The air, still heavy with humidity from the earlier day, began to cool, carrying the faint scent of street food vendors preparing for the evening rush. Students bustled about, some heading home, others engrossed in animated discussions, creating a more anonymous atmosphere for conversation than a quiet library.

"Did Tay mention anything?" Sean asked once they ensured no one could eavesdrop on them.

"Only that he barely escaped and then kept a low profile to make sure no one followed him," Win explained, using an excuse he prepared with Jay in case someone questioned him about it. But the truth was that Win wanted to know what truly happened to his best friend that night. How did he end up in hospital with such severe injuries? And why did Tay's so-called friend want Jay to come here... suddenly his thoughts stopped. Was it possible this Art person was involved in the ambush?

"He's smarter than he looks," Sean huffed, trying to sound unimpressed while deep inside feeling a great deal of annoyance that he didn't think about it.

"You have no idea!" Win laughed. "I'm sure if you stopped fighting for five minutes, you would get along perfectly. Anyway, why would anyone be after us? It's not like we did anything big or left our signature."

"I don't know, but then people we are against would stop at nothing to silence even minor inconvenience. And I'm pretty sure that had been more than that."

"All we did was sneak around and cause some disruption here and there. Even our social media are anonymous and don't have that much attention," Win stated, growing more worried. If their situation was more serious than he assumed, he should have never convinced Jay to stay here. It was too risky.

Sean sighed. "Well, we did get them a few mentions in local news, but it's like trying to move a mountain with our bare hands. They have resources to hash out whatever noise we make."

"You aren't planning to give up?"

"No," he shook his head, still looking as determined as ever. "But I have been wondering... are we doing the right thing? Last time, someone almost died because of us. Not to mention, isn't the problem much bigger than what we see?"

Win looked at him with confusion. "Something on your mind?"

"Yes, but I need to figure it out myself first," he replied thoughtfully.

Izzy was right. Diving head first wouldn't benefit anyone, especially when he was still conflicted about the path he should take. To focus on the bigger picture, he would have to push his personal goals and feelings aside, and Sean wasn't sure if he was ready for that.

"Anyway, why you were looking for me?"

Win looked at him like a deer in headlights as he completely forgot about creating a reasonable excuse for their meeting. He was too occupied with making sure Jay's cover was still safe. "Ugh...."

"Don't tell me you just need someone to kill time."

Win laughed awkwardly as if he was caught red-handed. "You got me. Tay is busy with work, and I didn't feel like sitting alone at home."

"I didn't know he had a job."

"It's just a side gig to give him extra cash on top of scholarship. You know his girlfriends can cost a lot," Win blabbered without thinking. "Besides, I'm sure Izzy could use some help around the garage."

"I'm starting to believe you actually enjoy sweeping floors."

"Of course!" Win exclaimed with enthusiasm. "It's relaxing, and at least I can return him the favour for letting us hang out there."

Win was always a bit hyper. His optimism and upbeat demeanour were a counterbalance to the edginess and cynicism that often lingered among them. While others might dismiss it as naivety, Sean knew better. Win's outlook wasn't blind ignorance; it was a deliberate choice, a deliberate defiance against the harsh realities they faced. His cheerful disposition served as a silent reminder to the group that there was a world beyond their clandestine operations worth fighting for and protecting. Win was like a glue that held them together, insisting they were friends and should care about each other as friends would. Sean couldn't deny that sometimes it irked him, especially when every fibre of his being wanted to strangle Tay. Still, like everyone else, Sean knew that their group would fall apart without him. He just wished Win would stay away from his snacks.

"Fine, you can hang out at the garage, but you get your own snacks. Last time you raided my stash, there was nothing left. Beer included," Sean added sternly while trying to fight off a smile.

Win rolled his eyes playfully. "Today's snacks are on me."

The university canteen was filled with hundreds of students, a cacophony of voices blending into a vibrant hum. It was the peak of lunch hour, and the space was alive with a frenetic buzz. Students queued in winding lines, clutching trays laden with an array of aromatic dishes: steaming bowls of fragrant tom yum soup, plates of pad Thai noodles, and neatly wrapped parcels of sticky rice accompanied by spicy papaya salad.

Amidst the bustling crowd, Win and Jay occupied a corner table, their lunch consisting of bowls of green curry served with jasmine rice. The scent of lemongrass and Thai basil wafted from their meal over multiple opened textbooks.

Between the bites, they discussed material from their morning classes Jay struggled to understand, making it easier for him to blend in. Their conversation alternated between native languages as they tried to find common ground for more complex issues.

"Wow, you're catching on so fast... it's unbelievable."

"Yeah," he chuckled, "Re-learning seems much easier than starting from scratch. Plus, I have always found learning new languages easy. I guess it's the only thing our parents did right."

Win's eyebrows furrowed thoughtfully as he wondered why neither Tay nor Jay had ever spoken about their parents. Sometimes, it felt as if they didn't exist. Did both of them find a way to leave it behind and simply move on from the past? "How come?" he asked, hoping to understand them better.

"When we still lived together, they raised us speaking three languages. Our mother taught us English, while our father taught us Chinese. As a whole family, we spoke Thai, but when we interacted with a specific parent, we were required to use their native language. Otherwise, they pretended to not hear us."

"That's...," Win trailed off, speechless. "It's good in some way, but also so messed up. I'm starting to understand why Tay left the house and never looked back. He never talked about him, but Tay always hated the path his father chose for him. At some point, he snapped and never spoke to him again. Looking at how different you turned out, I assume your mother was much better at parenting?"

Jay shrugged, his expression turning even more indifferent. "Dunno, I grew up in boarding school."

"I don't understand."

"Once we moved to London, she placed me in Westminster, and then we both moved on with our lives. At least she never tried to tell me what to do with mine."

Win's eyes shoot wide open. "Wait... You... went to the famous Westminster School?! Wow..." he trailed off as the true meaning behind Jay's words sunk in. "What do you mean moved on with your lives?"

"We would see each other maybe once a year, update on my progress at school and then carry on busy with our own things," he replied, his voice distant as if he spoke about last year's weather.

Win blinked, his mind struggling to grasp Jay's casual detachment. In a world where familial ties were the cornerstone of his upbringing, the notion of such distant relations seemed inconceivable. His chest tightened as an unfamiliar ache settled within him.

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, feeling a surge of empathy for the person across from him, yet acutely aware of the thin line between concern and overstepping boundaries. They had only recently met, and prying into Jay's personal history felt invasive. Win cleared his throat, the words he wanted to say caught in a web of emotions.

"I... I'm sorry," he finally managed, his gaze a mix of sympathy and unease. "That sounds tough, and I can't imagine what that must've been like. But... um, yeah..." His voice trailed off as he grappled with the right words.

Jay glanced at Win, his expression unchanging, the brief glimpse of his inner world well hidden behind a veil of detached composure. He tilted his head slightly, a nonchalant facade concealing any emotional stirrings that Win's attempt at understanding had caused.

"No need to be sorry," Jay replied, his tone almost indifferent, as if the subject held no weight in his life. He leaned back, adopting a relaxed posture, an effortless attempt to steer the conversation away from his personal history. "It wasn't as bad as you think," he added dismissively, a subtle signal that delving further into it was unwelcome.

Win observed Jay's calm exterior, and a part of him wanted to probe further, to understand. Yet, the detached coolness in Jay's response made it evident that he was a closed book on the matter.

Suddenly, Fort placed the tray with his lunch on the table and successfully averted Win's attention, changing the atmosphere around the table and shifting Win back into his upbeat mode. For a while, he was chatting about the newest game he had recently discovered, trying to get Fort to join him, but then noticed that his friend wasn't actually listening.

"You okay?" Win asked worriedly after watching him mindlessly push food around the plate.

"Hm?" Fort hummed, looking up from his lunch. "Oh, yeah."

"Well, you don't look like."

His hesitant gaze lingered over his companions as if he wanted to say something, but only a heavy sigh escaped his lips. It was clear that Fort struggled with something.

"Hey, no matter what it is, we can deal with it," Win encouraged him. "We will always have your back, right?" he added, giving Jay a knowing look.

"Of course."

Fort hesitated momentarily, his brow furrowing with concern as he glanced between Win and Jay. He took a deep breath, deciding to share his worries. "It's my sister... a while back, she was outed at work, and she's been facing a tough time since then."

Win's expression shifted to one of immediate worry. "Oh, no. What's happening there?"

"She's often isolated," Fort began, a tinge of frustration in his voice. "Her hours were cut, and her shifts changed without warning. It's clear that management is harassing her, trying to force her out, but there is nothing we can do."

Jay blinked in disbelief that something like this was allowed to happen. He couldn't imagine any company acting like this and avoiding consequences. Especially since Thailand always appeared very gay-friendly. They surely had to have laws to protect people from discrimination, right? He looked questioningly at Win, but he only shook his head in response, deepening Jay's shock and disbelief.

"Is she... okay?" Win asked with genuine concern.

"She's trying to be strong," Fort replied. "But it's affecting her a lot. There is little comfort that others are treated in similar matters, so they created a small support group. But it feels so fucked up. No one deserves that kind of treatment. These fuckers act like there is something wrong with her... I know you said no more burning houses, but I would love to raze that shithole to the ground."

"Understandable," Win chuckled lightly to lift his mood. "But maybe there is something else we can do?"

"What?"

"I don't know, but there must be something," Win said thoughtfully.

"To change things like this, you need a lot of social pressure, big enough to cause problems for government. As long as there aren't any laws to protect them, the company can get away with anything," Jay explained, indicating they are over their head with this issue. "But you can be there for her and make sure that outside the work, your sister knows there are people she can rely on."

"But that's so unfair!" Win protested despite understanding where Jay was coming from.

"Well, life isn't always fair, but you go with what you have," he shrugged.

Win wanted to argue with him but remembered Jay's detachment when he spoke about his mother and understood that he was right. There is only so much one can do, but it didn't mean he wouldn't try. Besides, the last time he saw Sean, it seemed like he also had some things on his mind. Maybe if they were all to meet together, they could work something out and do more than just sneak around.

"Are you okay with meeting later to talk it out with Sean and Izzy?" Win proposed, unsure if Fort wanted to bring everyone into his family's problems.

"I have work today," Jay said, hoping he could excuse himself and pass on seeing Sean.

Ever since their accidental meeting, Sean lingered in his thoughts. Jay didn't want to admit it, but there was something captivating about the way Sean's eyes lit up when he talked about his interest. Their essay discussion let him see a completely different person... much more intriguing. Not to mention, Sean's smile, although often reserved, held an understated charm that drew his attention. It was a subtle curve of the lips that appeared almost reluctant. Yet, it carried a warmth that softened the edges of Sean's usually nonchalant demeanour. That disarming smile lingered in Jay's memory, making him wonder why suddenly he was so interested in someone.

"Wow... you are borderline a workaholic, aren't you?" Win mumbled without thinking as he realised that Jay either studied with him or worked, but mostly worked.

"I have been told."

"Are you back at your part-time job?" Fort asked, appreciating the shift in conversation.

"No, this one keeps him much more busy," Win huffed, trying to divert the attention away from Jay. "He never has time for me anymore, can you believe it?"

"Yes, I can."

Win blinked, his eyes growing larger. "How can you be so mean, Fort?! You should have told him off!"

"As if he would listen," Fort playfully rolled his eyes. "I need to run for my classes. Should we meet tomorrow then?"

Win nodded. It has been over two weeks since the fire, and having a meeting to catch up and plan their next move seemed like a great idea. Besides, he worried they might grow apart if they didn't come together soon after such a traumatic experience. And Win didn't want it to happen. SWIFT was his safe place... a group that gave him a sense of purpose and hope to change something around him. Losing them would be like losing part of himself.