The atmosphere in the garage hung heavy with tension, the low hum of fluorescent lights casting a subdued glow over the worn-out surroundings. Despite having shared a few beers, their focus was firmly on the task. The usual banter and playful exchanges were notably absent, replaced by a collective sense of purpose and concern etched on each face.

Win listened to Izzy explaining the best way to approach the break-in, but his mind kept drifting to the person he unwittingly dragged right in the middle of this mess. He knew that possible consequences could ruin Jay's life... a life that didn't belong here. And Win couldn't let this happen.

He took a deep breath, realising they couldn't hide Jay's identity forever. And with this new mission, it felt like the right time to come clean. Part of him wished he had more time to plan, maybe talk to Fort first since Tay was his close friend too. But he didn't have this luxury.

He tried not to think about potential consequences, yet Win couldn't shake the feeling that it might change how the group worked together. But the decision to share this information was becoming necessary. However, Win couldn't help but worry about how the others would react. Would they understand the reasons behind hiding Jay's identity for so long, or would they feel betrayed when they found out?

Finally, he set the empty bottle on the table with a resounding thud, catching everyone's attention and looked straight at Jay.

"What do you want to do?" he asked, giving him a knowing yet worried look. Then, he continued with a message Jay would understand, a green light to drop the cover. "Peru sounds like a great place to be."

It was much easier to ignore questioning looks with his eyes fixed on Jay, watching how his demeanour changed. Win always found it intriguing and astonishing how different Jay was from his twin. The way he sat shifted from the previously adopted casual and somewhat sloppy posture mimicking his twin to a more refined one. His shoulders straightened imperceptibly, and his back subtly aligned with an innate elegance that hinted at a more privileged background. The harshness in his expression softened, giving way to a more neutral yet effortlessly confident countenance.

"I can help to some extent and most likely put you in touch with the movement's leaders," he proposed, knowing his mother was in contact with most organisations worldwide or could easily help them if asked. "But I think they should know the risk."

Fort, caught off guard, blinked in confusion, his mind grappling with the unexpected changes in Tay's demeanour. Sean and Izzy mirrored the perplexity. "Since when do you sound so British?"

"Since I can remember."

"Not helping, mate," Win commented with a bit of a desperate chuckle, taking a moment to organise his thoughts. There was no easy way to deal with it, and ripping off the band-aid seemed the best. "I know it will sound bizarre, but we had no other choice, and I convinced him to do it. I'm sorry for dragging you into it..." he trailed off, glancing at him apologetically.

"Don't worry about it. It was mostly fun."

Fort looked at him worriedly. "You are not making any sense, Tay."

"Actually, I'm Jay, Tay's identical twin brother.

"You don't have a brother," Fort uttered in shock.

"Well, that's what I thought a few weeks ago," Win replied with a sheepish smile. "But I can assure you he does, and they are nothing alike."

"Oh well, that would explain why I'm not so pissed off around him," Sean mumbled, utterly stunned by Win's revelation.

"Thanks, I guess?" Jay responded with a playful smile.

Izzy frowned, unsure what to make of it. Surely, they would know if their close friend had a sibling looking precisely like him, right? It felt so surreal that the only rational explanation was that they were pranking them. "Wait, if Tay has an identical twin, why did we not know about it?"

"I can't exactly answer this question. To be honest, I barely remembered he existed. Maybe it was the same for him? After all, seventeen years is long enough to forget someone," Jay shrugged, his tone as composed as ever, revealing no trace of attachment or emotions. His gaze remained cool and distant, betraying little about how he truly felt about his twin. "Our family dynamics have always been rather complicated. Our parents divorced to follow their respectable careers. I moved to London with our mother when we were around six, and we never saw each other again. I didn't even know he still lived in Bangkok. And certainly, I didn't expect one of his friends to call me to come here. It was too suspicious to ignore it. However, I had no idea it would lead to my involvement with arson, inches away from manslaughter. Fucking unbelievable... what made him think it was a good idea?"

"Well, Tay always had a rather radical approach to things," Win answered.

"No shit."

Fort took a deep breath as if processing information. He would love for Win and Tay to suddenly burst out laughing and admit they got them, but deep inside, he knew that the person in front of him wasn't Tay. Part of him already knew that. Still, one question... one dreadful question remained unanswered. "If you are here, where is Tay."

"In hospital."

"WHAT?!" echoed throughout the garage as the three of them exclaimed in unison.

"Tay... he didn't make... it out of the factory," Win said quietly, fumbling with the hem of his hoodie. "He ended in critical condition in hospital... he was beaten up to the point he was barely alive and is still in a coma."

"Oh my god," Fort mumbled, shaking his head in disbelief. "It's impossible... c'mon, Win... it's not funny...."

"I wish it was a joke, but I saw his case file... I could barely recognise him."

"But did you see him?!"

Win shook his head. "Given everything, it's safer to stay away from the hospital. Besides, they wouldn't let us in a place like that."

"What do you mean?" Izzy asked, confused.

"He is in Bumrungrad Hospital."

"Impossible," Izzy questioned him, knowing their reality all too well. People like them didn't end up in the best but also most expensive hospital in the city. "First, they would never take him in. Second, he could never afford it, which brings us back to reason number one."

Win groaned in frustration despite empathising with their disbelief. He knew he would likely react the same way if he hadn't seen Jay being himself – dressed in clothes that could feed a small family here for months. Honestly, he still couldn't get over how seamlessly someone like Jay fit in with them in this dingy garage. It genuinely made him reconsider his stance that all rich people were arrogant snobs, looking down on everyone else like they were nothing more than dirt.

"It's true. I moved him there as soon as I came here," Jay admitted, feeling bad for Win. He could imagine how difficult it was for him. Win was constantly worried about Tay, but also how his friends would react once they learned the truth. This must have been incredibly hard for him, but it seemed like others reacted better than Win expected. "Tay may be a stranger to me, but I wouldn't leave him to die. Besides, I would like to know who and why they found me on the other side of the globe and how it is connected to you. Especially, that person who called me insisted that one of you is responsible for Tay's condition."

"Hey, he may be an asshole, but neither of us would sell him out!" Sean argued.

"I know, that was the easiest thing to figure out, but it doesn't explain why Art insisted on me pretending to be Tay and blaming you."

"I never heard of him," Fort commented, trying to recall all Tay's friends.

"As I said, me neither," Win chimed in, his eyes sweeping over the group, but others only shook their heads. "We don't know much about him besides the fact that he knew Tay. But maybe we should start at the beginning before everything gets too confusing?"

"I would definitely appreciate it," Izzy chuckled, trying to keep his composure. "I'm still struggling to process that this is not Tay and that you hid it from us for so long."

Win felt the weight of Izzy's words like a punch to the gut. He hadn't meant to deceive them, but the truth hung heavy in the air, and he couldn't escape the sense of betrayal looming over the room. His gaze dropped to the floor in shame, unable to meet the eyes of his friends. One wrong move could create a rift that threatened the foundation of their trust. Regret churned in his stomach and a gnawing worry about whether they would ever trust him again clawed at the edges of his consciousness. What if they would never trust him again?

"His first reaction was to tell you, but I asked him not to. There were too many uncontrollable variables, plus I definitely shouldn't be involved in something like this," Jay replied, understanding Win's position. "Shortly after the arson, I wanted to continue with my original plans, but Win asked me to keep attending classes; otherwise, Tay would lose his scholarship. I don't mind doing it. It's a nice change of scenery," he added, unwittingly glancing at Sean. "But I won't do anything that could compromise my career."

"Let me guess, it's related to the British justice system?" Sean asked, appreciating a slight diversion from the main topic.

A brief respite for everyone to organise their thoughts and come to terms with the fact that their actions can have dire consequences. It was always on the back of their minds how dangerous their clandestine activities were, but hearing about Tay's condition suddenly made it tangible. And Sean didn't like it. It was easy talking about risking their lives for a greater cause when they felt relatively safe.

Fort shot him a grateful look, his eyes glistening with unshed tears as the reality of his friend's injuries sunk in. He couldn't exactly cope with everything at the moment. It felt like all mounting issues pressed hard on him, making breathing difficult. Part of him wished Win had told him about Tay sooner, that their best friend was fighting for his life. But he understood the difficult position Win found himself in. There was no right choice here, and Fort didn't blame him for choosing the best at the time. Although, it scared him that Tay could disappear, and he wouldn't even know about it. All he could do now was to ensure nothing like this happened again.

"Yeah, you can call me if you need someone to get your ass out of prison."

Sean's eyebrow quirked teasingly. "Bold of you to assume my ass would ever need your help."

Jay's lips curved into a suggestive smirk as he leaned in slightly, his eyes locking with Sean's. "You never know."

Sean felt a sudden tightness in his throat, a nervous flutter that hinted at something hidden beneath the surface. Something he couldn't put his finger on yet, but Jay's smirk held a magnetic allure, making him question the very foundation of his being.

Izzy's worried gaze shifted from Win, who clearly had a hard time, to his little brother, instantly filling with mischievous sparks. It wasn't ideal that they hid Jay's identity from them, but they seemed to have valid reasons, and Izzy was ready to listen to them without judgment. Besides, he was convinced that Jay could have a good influence on someone as stubborn as Sean.

"Okay," he started, catching everyone's attention. Izzy gave Win an understanding nod, trying to comfort him and show that no one held this against him. "I believe you both owe us a long story, so if you could start from the beginning, it would be extremely helpful."

"A few weeks ago, Art Thawin reached out to my office looking for me and claiming we were friends, which already raised a red flag. None of my friends would do it. It's too unprofessional, and they all have my number. Then, he refused to give our secretary reasons for his persistent calls and demanded to speak with me. It was suspicious enough that after a couple days, I called him," Jay said, then explained the reason behind Art's calls. His words were measured, each syllable delivered with a calm precision that mirrored his usual demeanour. His gaze remained steady as he continued with Art's vague explanations, the reluctance to involve the police, and the convoluted story about group involvement in the ambush.

His eyes reflected a mix of curiosity and concern as Izzy leaned forward, resting his chin on his laced fingers and sighed heavily. "So, our little group unknowingly dragged you into a mess we didn't even know existed?"

"That sounds about right."

Fort shook his head with disbelief bordering on amusement. "How did you manage to pull it off, especially the mission at the mansion on your second day here?"

"Enormous amount of luck, reading between the lines and avoiding deeper involvement."

"Makes sense," Fort nodded, thinking back to that day. He realised that signs were there. They just were too busy to notice them. Tay was the last person to pass on leadership, especially to Sean. Jay clearly provoked him enough to pass the mantle and then withdrew. Then, he mostly disappeared, hiding behind part-time jobs and studies. 'Smart,' Fort acknowledged. "Damn, I should have known Tay didn't have the stamina to pull off a climb like that with such ease you did."

"I should have probably thought about it back then, but habits die hard," Jay replied lightly as the atmosphere in the garage loosened up.

"So, what are you going to do now?" Win asked, still unable to look at his friends, but then Fort's warm hand landed on his hair and ruffled it playfully. His shoulders instinctively lowered as he slipped into a more relaxed posture. It felt surreal that no one seemed angry with him, but maybe he should have more faith in them? Just like they clearly have in him.

"I don't mind staying here longer and keeping his attendance, but I would rather not be involved in another arson."

"Neither we," Izzy reassured him. "One was definitely enough, especially when you realise potential consequences. So what are we going to do about this Art guy?"

"I will talk to my friend and see what they can dig on him while keeping him in the dark. He texted me a few times asking about your group, but I told him that Win was not involved, just Tay's friend from uni, and I don't have any leads on you."

"So you lied to him?" Sean questioned him, slightly surprised.

"Of course, why wouldn't I? I trust him as far as I can throw him."

"What about us? We may not be any better, for all you know."

Without breaking eye contact with Sean, Jay smiled teasingly. "Look at this from my point of view. Win knows everything about Tay and spent the last two weeks practising Thai with me, so we can keep this whole thing up. Plus, he is too cheerful and friendly to be malicious. Fort may be more reserved, but he genuinely cares, always trying to defuse conflicts. You hate Tay way too much to pretend anything, and Izzy is like your reasonable older brother who tries to keep you out of trouble. As a group, you are rather trustworthy and reliable."

"That actually makes sense," Sean admitted, looking quite impressed.

"Of course, I wouldn't be so good at my job if I couldn't read people," Jay replied with a shameless grin.

Sean would love to punch this smug look off his face, but a massive part of him found Jay too endearing to do it.

Suddenly, a smooth jazz ringtone filled the space around them. Almost reluctantly, he looked away from Sean and pulled out his phone. Jay frowned slightly when he noticed the caller and slid over the screen to answer. "Yes?"

"Mr Anderson, it's Rebecca. I'm sorry to disturb you, but we have a situation here. Is it a good time now?"

Jay glanced at the group and indicated he needed to take the call, then stepped slightly to the side. "Yes, go on."

"A witness in the Pembrook case just came forward. He is available for an online meeting today. Can you join?"

He was more than aware that this could change the entire game and accelerate the case. "When?"

"In an hour."

Jay covered the speaker and looked at Win. "Can you get me to the hotel in half an hour?"

His eyebrow furrowed in confusion. "I thought you stayed at Tay's this week."

"It's work. Urgent."

"Oh!" His eyes widened with realisation before turning thoughtful as Win considered the distance they needed to cover. "Doable."

Jay removed his hand from the speaker and settled the necessary details while Win collected his belongings. "Oh, Rebecca? I have a favour to ask."

"Of course, Mr Anderson."

"If needed, could you set up a meeting with leaders of the most influential equality rights or LGBTQ movements in Thailand?"

"Yes, but I wouldn't say that's your area of expertise, Mr Anderson," she responded with cheekiness their familiarity allowed. "Is it a personal favour?"

Jay rolled his eyes, which didn't escape his companions' attention. "How much is it going to cost me?"

"We are keeping it secret from the boss, am I correct?"

"Yes, just name your price."

"Month of daily supply of desserts for the Administration Department from Ladurée, and I can add politicians supporting them."

"Ouch, but you have a deal."

"Perfect, Mr Anderson," Rebecca chirped happily. "I will gather the necessary information and have it ready when you need it."

"Thank you."

"No, thank you, Mr Anderson. It's a pleasure to do business with you."

"For you, maybe," he chuckled and finished the call. "I need to go now, but once we are ready, we will have a meeting with movements and politicians supporting them."

Izzy stared at him as if Jay had grown a second head, then sighed heavily. "You can't drop stuff like this on us and just leave."

"Believe me, he will. There is one thing you need to know about him," Win started, pointing at Jay. "There is nothing in this world this guy loves more than his job. Why do you think he is never around? He always works, like always," he added with exaggeration. "It took all my charm to drag him here today."

"I will skin you alive if I'm late for this meeting."

"Right!" Win let out a high-pitched yelp and grabbed his backpack. "See you later, guys!"

A stunned silence descended on the garage once more as the three remaining group members stared at each other in utter shock.

"What the fuck just happened?" Sean finally asked.