The sky was a vivid blue, unmarred by clouds, and the sun already blazed high, casting a sharp glare on the garage's corrugated metal roof. Inside, the air was dense and humid, carrying the tangy aroma of motor oil, creating stifling conditions.

A rhythmic clatter echoed from the back, where Izzy worked on a disassembled engine. Nearby, an old oscillating fan struggled to push the hot, sticky air around the room, its mechanical hum barely audible over the buzzing of cicadas outside. The garage door was half-open, inviting in a slight breeze that carried the distant sounds of the bustling city.

Izzy paused, hearing the familiar roar of a motorbike engine, then wiped his hands on a rag and turned around just in time to face Sean walking his bike inside.

"It has been a while, little brother," Izzy said knowingly, leaning on a nearby column. "May I inquire where you spent the last several days after rushing out of here in the middle of the night?"

Sean rolled his eyes. "Isn't it obvious?"

"A couple of weeks ago, I would have said yes, but after watching you all depressed recently, I'm not sure anymore," Izzy replied honestly. "Besides, he would be back in London by now, right?"

"Jay extended his stay for a few months."

Izzy gawked at him. "Does it mean you two are together?"

Sean smiled, a genuine and happy smile Izzy hadn't seen in years.

"I'm happy for you," Izzy said, ruffling his black hair. "So, how did you manage to get him?"

"I finally realised that when you truly love someone, you meet them where they are at instead of constantly trying to push their boundaries or tiptoe around them... and that honesty goes a long way," Sean replied, his voice much softer than usual.

When Victor mentioned that Jay had been alone for too long, it truly sunk in for Sean. It made sense of the things he had already noticed – the way Jay seemed confused by the simplest displays of affection or how he would always withdraw when they got too close. Sean worried that something must have happened to make Jay wary of letting people in. He wasn't sure what it was – possibly a relationship gone wrong – but it didn't matter. He couldn't change the past, but he could be there for Jay now and slowly, day by day, convince him that they were worth the effort.

"Anyway, Fort and Win should be here soon as well," he said, heading towards his loft. "We need to prepare for our next move now that exams are over."

"What about Jay?"

"It's not something we should drag him into, Izzy."

"You're right," Izzy agreed, knowing Jay's legal career would go up in smoke if they got him into trouble. "I'll try to help as much as I can."

"Focus on Sari and Lizzy, okay? They need you more than we do."

"I know, but still... you need a voice of reason, and if Jay isn't here, then I'm your second-best option."

"I keep forgetting how much of a pain in the ass you can be," Sean laughed, climbing the stairs. "Let me know when the guys are here."

Part of him had worried that his tiny loft would feel suffocating after spending so much time at Jay's spacious penthouse. But on the contrary, it felt just as it always did – a home. Small and worn down, it was something worth fighting for, just like their whole district. It was a shame Tay couldn't join them; after all, it was his fight too. Sean tossed his bag on the floor and chuckled at his own thoughts. The fact that he even considered Tay showed how much things had changed over the last few months.

Suddenly, his phone lit up with an unknown number. Assuming it was either the university or hospital about this month's payment, Sean answered the call. After a lengthy conversation, he dropped onto the bed with a stunned expression.

"Wow, I didn't see it coming," he muttered in shock.

Sean checked the following email with details about meeting confirmation, reading them twice as if assuming someone made a mistake. When it finally sunk in, he opened the chat and typed a quick message.

Me

Are you still free?

Jay

Yes, I have a few more minutes before the meeting.

Did something happen?

Me

I got a call from RSAT...

They want to meet in a couple days to discuss the internship with me.

It would cover this summer and last year at uni.

Jay

That's amazing.

Do you want to do it?

Me

I think so?

The problem is that I usually work for Izzy and Wong in the summer to cover months without the scholarship.

Jay

I assume the internship is unpaid?

Me

Yeah

Jay

Can you negotiate with the hospital to suspend payments for a couple months?

Me

Impossible

The hospital already compromised on lowering monthly instalments.

There is no way they will freeze them for 2 months.

Jay

Would you go for it if you didn't have to worry about the hospital?

Me

Yes.

Opportunities like this don't happen here often.

Jay

Then we will make it work.

Sorry, I need to go.

I will see you later at the garage, okay?

Sean stared at the screen with a faint smile. He was used to handling problems on his own, but Jay's reassurance made him believe he didn't have to anymore. It was a comforting thought – that there was someone besides Izzy he could rely on.

He knew this internship would be invaluable for his future career, aligning perfectly with his major. But the financial strain was daunting. Even if he cancelled their trip, it would only cover one-third of the upcoming hospital bills. Missing payments would lead to more trouble down the road. Maybe he could juggle both jobs with the internship? He could survive on minimal sleep for a couple of months, but this would mean no time for Jay.

Sean sighed. It seemed like there was no perfect solution. Suddenly, his phone lit up with an incoming message, and he smiled unwittingly.

Jay

And don't overthink this.

Me

Focus on your meeting 🙄

Sean sighed again, shifting his attention to the issue at hand. His own meeting with the rest of the group was important as well. Everything had to be airtight as they could no longer afford to be reckless. And if they were to make any progress, they had to play their cards right. Especially now when the picture got so much bigger.

After a quick shower, Sean stepped outside his room to a completely different atmosphere in the garage. It was still hot and filled with motor oil and grease scent, but underneath was a faint but familiar aroma of grilled pork skewers – a signature snack Fort's mother would often send them. And it went perfectly well with cold beer.

"There you are!" Win exclaimed enthusiastically, tossing him covered in a condensation bottle. "I was about to eat all moo ping myself... I can already feel it melting in my mouth."

Fort picked a skewer and gently waved it in front of Win's face. It glistened with a caramelised glaze, exuding a mouth-watering aroma of garlic, coriander, and coconut milk, intermingled with a hint of smoky char from the grill. The succulent pieces of marinated pork were perfectly seared, each bite promising a burst of savoury sweetness with a subtle undertone of fish sauce and palm sugar. The still warm skewer left a slight trail of steam in the humid air, making it impossible to resist. Win's eyes followed it, his stomach rumbling in anticipation of the tender, juicy meat.

But just as Win was about to grab the skewer, Fort swiftly moved away with a cheeky smile. "Who said I'm going to share with you, huh?"

Win looked at him like a wounded puppy while Sean burst out laughing, plopping on his usual spot. He took a bite of moo ping, and his face instantly lit up with delight.

"You are missing out so much, mate."

"Sometimes I hate you both so much!" Win exclaimed, putting on his best upset face. "Izzy! Tell them off! Sean and Fort are being sooooo mean to me, you wouldn't believe it!"

Izzy walked towards them, cleaning his hands with an amused smile. "There, there," he said, patting Win's head. "What are you planning to do next?"

The atmosphere shifted immediately at his question, and their playful mood vanished. They had discussed some options before, but now it was time to solidify their plan.

"We're focusing on three core ideas," Sean started, leaning back on the sofa with a beer bottle. "Remember when Jay told us that Art owes Chaiyawat for drugs? If he's dealing with this, one of his factories must be involved in distribution. If we can find evidence, it'll definitely draw attention. No politician would cover up for a drug dealer if we publicise everything."

"Wouldn't it be easier to ask Jay about it?" Izzy asked, concerned about the risk.

Fort shook his head. "We don't want to," he said confidently. "Jay already helped us enough with Aya, and even though it would be easier to ask this super overpowered security company to investigate it for us, they are not a charity."

"Yeah," Win added. "We can't afford their services, and asking Jay to sponsor our borderline illegal group would be just plain rude."

"Fair point," Izzy sighed. "So, how are you planning to do this?"

Sean took a sip of the beer, organising his thoughts. He was aware of what was at stake. "We'll start with surveillance. I will watch out for anything at Wong's. Places like his are easy targets for dealers. Maybe we can pick a trail. Win and Fort will take turns staking out the factories for unusual deliveries or late-night operations. Once we find something, we will look for more concrete evidence and post it."

"Once we can create enough noise, the public would have to acknowledge it," Fort added. "And this is one of these things people won't ignore."

Izzy hated the whole idea. It felt too dangerous, but he couldn't argue with their reasoning. Yet, at the same time, they had so much to lose if things went sideways. He wouldn't forgive himself if he didn't try to stop them. He knew if he could convince Sean, the rest would follow. "What does Jay think about it?" he asked, knowing this was the only person his little brother would listen to.

Win's gaze instantly zoomed in on Sean. "Jay? I thought we were not involving him in it."

"Yeah, didn't he go back to London a few days ago?"

Sean rolled his eyes at Izzy, picking up on his intentions. "He doesn't know because we are not involving him in our mess, Izzy."

"So, you are going to lie to him?"

"Of course not," Sean argued. "I'm not going to fuck this up, but it's safer for him to not know about what we do. What if he gets caught up in it? It would ruin his career."

"What if it happens because he doesn't even know what's happening around you and him by proxy?" Izzy countered. "This is a very dumb idea, Sean."

"Do you have a better one?"

"Talk to him, for fuck's sake!"

"I will, happy?!" Sean finally relented.

Fort and Win looked between them with confusion, unsure what all of this was about. And then it finally clicked in. But even Win knew not to butt in right now.

Izzy shook his head with resignation, knowing not to push too hard. Instead, he focused his attention on the purpose of their meeting. "What are the other two things?"

"Disruption of their operations to cause financial losses," Win announced. "We plan random break-ins at their factories and warehouses, followed by social media posts with videos and photos showing working conditions and security breaches suggesting we tampered with their products. Even if we don't, they'll have to check everything for quality or risk customer backlash."

"We'll keep our safety in mind, Izzy," Sean assured him, seeing his worried expression. "One of us will stay outside as a lookout while the other two go in, watching each other's backs. We'll withdraw and regroup if anything feels suspicious."

"I'm scared to ask about the last one."

"Once we raise public awareness, we'll start organising protests to put more pressure on the officials," Fort explained. "It's the most difficult because staying anonymous will be almost impossible."

"Have you lost your minds?" Izzy questioned them sternly. "If they ever learn who you are, you will end far worse than Tay!"

"I get you are worried, but nothing will ever change if everyone is too afraid to stand up for what is right," Sean stated with conviction, suggesting he wouldn't back down. "We all know the risk and are willing to take it. There are more people like Aya out there... people who work in life-threatening conditions for a wage that doesn't provide basic necessities, Izzy. Not to mention, parts of the district swallowed by their greed. It's enough."

Win nodded. "It's a risk, but in return, we can give voice to those who can't speak for themselves."

Izzy sighed heavily, running his hand through his hair. "There is no convincing you to back down?"

"No," Fort replied without hesitation. "We already made our choice."

"We are doing it for Tay as well," Win said with a sombre smile. "He refused to give up till the very end, risking his own life to keep us safe. It's time to pay him back and bring down bastards who did this to him."

"Just promise me you won't do anything stupid and no unnecessary risk, okay?" he insisted, worrying about their future.

"We will be fine, Izzy!"

Izzy looked at Win, still unconvinced, but there wasn't much else he could do. In the past, their intentions had been good, but their actions had been scattered. Now, for the first time, they were determined to make it work and stick to a cohesive plan. Suddenly, it all felt much bigger than just their little group. All he could do was to support them and pray for their safety.

The setting sun cast long, golden rays through the partially opened door, painting the walls in warm hues of orange and pink. Dust particles floated lazily in the shafts of light, creating a hazy glow that softened the garage's rough edges. The space was quiet, filled only with the faint hum of distant traffic and the occasional creak of cooling metal.

Sean was still in his usual spot, his head leaning against the backrest, facing the ceiling. His eyes were closed as he was lost in his thoughts and unaware of his surroundings. It felt like, in many ways, this was the longest day ever. The kind that leaves a person so completely and utterly exhausted that they feel like they are running on empty.

Suddenly, the comforting scent of cedarwood and cypress filled the air, enveloping him like a warm embrace. He felt a familiar weight settle on his lap, grounding him back to the present. His eyes fluttered open as he heard an amused voice.

"For someone who sneaks around, you are pretty easy to sneak up on... and I didn't even try."

Acting instinctually, Sean pulled him closer, resting his forehead on Jay's shoulder. "How long are you here?"

"Long enough to know you have more on your mind than you can handle."

Sean chuckled desperately. "Yeah, that pretty much sums it up."

"How much of it is related to internship?"

"A lot."

"Should we start there?"

Sean nodded and recounted the conversation with the RSAT representative. They were impressed with his approach and knowledge during the meeting. After internal discussions, they decided to invite him for an internship with more hours during the summer and flexibility during the academic year. Everything would be officially organised with the university, contributing to his credits and enhancing his academic record.

"I think you should do it," Jay said, shifting to sit on the sofa beside him. "It's a perfect opportunity to gain practical experience while still at uni."

"Normally, I wouldn't hesitate, but I just can't find a way to combine everything," he replied with resignation.

"Do you have all the documentation related to the hospital bills? Usually, contracts include a clause about temporarily freezing instalments. Or, if you haven't missed any payments, we might be able to use that to our advantage and request a two-month grace period."

Sean couldn't help but smile as he realised this was Jay's professional side – entirely focused on facts and finding a solution. "Yes, I have everything upstairs."

Sean stood up and led him to the loft. Once inside, he pulled out a box from underneath his bed. It was full of documents related to his mother's hospital stay and subsequent bills. They settled on the cushions on the floor, slowly going through everything. They were talking about the group's plans when Jay suddenly fell silent, looking at the contract with the repayment plan.

"This is from the beginning of September," Jay said, his eyebrows furrowed with confusion. "Given your birthday is in October, the whole contract is invalid... you were still a minor with no legal capacity, Sean."

"I never thought about it," Sean muttered in disbelief. "I suppose I've been too caught up in just surviving."

"I can imagine you weren't in the best state of mind then, and it seems that the hospital took advantage of it," Jay explained with a sympathetic smile. "Based on this alone, any respectable lawyer could contest the contract and get the rest of the debt voided. Possibly even refund all the payments you made, but this is outside my expertise."

"Do you really think voiding the rest is possible?"

Jay nodded. "It should be doable without even taking them to court. I'm not sure how it works here, but given the whole contract is illegal, the hospital may agree to void the rest just to avoid trial and the possibility of a refund."

"I don't need the refund, but not having to pay it for another ten years would help me a lot."

"Let's start with getting a consultation with a lawyer who specialises in debt collection and consumer protection law," Jay proposed, organising helpful to the case documents. "An official letter from a law firm would be a good starting point with the hospital."

"Oh, this will cost a fair amount, isn't it?"

"I think so," he said thoughtfully. "Let's not worry about it now, okay? I can always lend you whatever you need, and you can pay me back whenever you can."

"I can't let you do that."

"Why not?" Jay asked gently, trying to be respectful towards Sean's situation. "I understand it's not ideal, but I don't mind helping you. I'm pretty sure you would do the same for me. Besides, this way, I'll get to see you more," he added with his usual one-sided smile.

A smile Sean could never say no to, but there was another issue. Something he was worried might have happened to Jay in the past. "I know, but I don't want you to feel obligated to pay for me because we are together."

Jay effortlessly pulled him into a soft kiss, just as he did that night at the beach. "I would help you even if we weren't together, Sean. Personally, I find it absolutely unacceptable that a hospital would take advantage of a teenager who just lost the last remaining parent like this."

"You are incredible, you know?" he chuckled lightly, feeling a bit more relaxed.

"I know."

Sean rolled his eyes and kissed Jay's shameless smile away, steering their conversation to a lighter topic, like tonight's dinner.

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted as brown eyes landed on a letter dated just a few days before the contract. Jay's expression changed instantly, sending a chill down Sean's spine. The letter threatened that if Sean didn't agree to a repayment plan, the hospital would withhold his mother's body for scientific purposes and take legal action to repossess all her belongings to cover the bill. Jay found it despicable how they exploited Sean's vulnerable state, forcing him into an agreement he was neither legally nor emotionally equipped to handle.

"Fucking unbelievable," Jay uttered, scrolling through something on his phone.

Sean glanced at the letter and froze. He hadn't remembered it at all. Everything had happened so quickly back then, and he had tried to handle it all as best he could without falling apart. Now, Sean understood why Jay was so angry.

"What are you doing?" he asked cautiously.

"Looking for the best law firm in the city," Jay replied tersely.

Despite the painful memories flooding back, Sean managed to smile. "You do know I can't afford it, right?"

"But I can," Jay replied without hesitation, meeting his gaze. "Consider it my contribution to ensuring something like this never happens again. I understand why you guys are doing this, and I support your cause. Still, I can't actively help you with your reckless and borderline illegal plans – we are not done talking about those – but I can do this."

"You really don't leave much room for argument, do you?"

Jay grinned.