Thankhun finds Kim in his room, sitting down with his face in his hands. He brings a bottle of old Irish whiskey and two glasses with him. The older pours some into the glasses and slides one to Kim.

After a good gulp, he looks at his little brother with worry attached to his face. "Just tell me you love him."

Kim sighs. He doesn't answer it immediately, but when he does his voice is heavy, "So much that sometimes I feel like dying every day without him."

Khun nods to that. He can recognize the truth. Kim is anything and everything people say he is to be, but he is also the same boy who holds Khun in his arms every time Khun breaks down crying. Kim is the same brother who shoulders responsibility at such a young age because Khun can't, without a word, without an ounce of hatred toward his incapable older brother.

"You left him," Khun pushes. "You made him cry, heartbroken. There were days he couldn't sleep, and wouldn't eat. Couldn't function. That was why I agreed when Pete proposed to let them study in London. I said no way to Porsche, of course, giving him a theatrical fuss, because I know that will only make him more sure to do it."

Kim looks at him with a little heat in his eyes now. Khun acknowledges his brother's anger and disapproval. "It was necessary. It would only take a little tip more to make him crazy, Kim. You should know better. Not anyone is as strong as you or Annakinn."

Thankhun refers to himself. He certainly knows firsthand what kidnapping can do to a man.

"I did it because I thought keeping him away from me would make him safer. But I know better now." Kim laments.

"And agreeing to the contract?"

"Pa knows." Kim only needs to say that and Khun understands that their father was dangling Porchay in front of Kim's face as leverage. His brother, as smart as he is, took it to his advantage by making his request written so their father couldn't bail out on it in the future.

Their dad certainly underestimated what Kim could do when he was determined to succeed.

"You are turning into him, has anyone ever told you that?" Khun pours another golden liquid into his glass and Kim's.

"Annakinn," answers Kim before downing his drink in one go. Khun laughs. They are indeed brothers.

After a good moment of silence, Khun gets up from his seat. "I'll see what I can do," he says, making Kim bestow him with a sincere smile, the one that makes his face softer and crazily more beautiful.

Khun chuckles. This is no easy task. Chay is not stupid. But there is almost nothing Khun can't do when he really puts his mind to it. After all, that's what an older brother should do.

***

Porchay can't sleep.

He's tossing and turning, but his eyes just won't close down. He looks at the clock. 5 a.m.

His mind keeps coming back to the previous event.

After Kim left, his brother hurriedly hugged him and tried to soothe him with his hand on Chay's back. "I'll try to get around this and get you out of this, Chay. Just hold on for a moment."

What Porsche said only cemented his thought that they couldn't get out of this, whatever it is because Chay doesn't know anything as the elders just love to keep him in the dark. At least not without heavy consequences. Logically speaking, the heaviest consequence is for Porchay to be killed because of the threats.

Chay doesn't want to leave Porsche alone in this world. Sure, there is Kinn, but knowing how Porsche is, him being dead will at least make his brother clinically crazy out of guilt.

He is in between a rock and a hard place with no way out. Neutrally speaking, Kim's solution is the most logical answer.

But no way he will ever be with him again. Right?

Porchay wishes this is only a nightmare, but it's not. He can't even sleep. Can't dream if you can't sleep.

So he gives up, taking his cigarette with him, he walks out of his room and trailing his path to the back garden where Khun's private pond is. The air is nice and fresh, but he still feels he is unable to breathe freely.

Chay is about to light one cigarette in his mouth when a voice startles him, "Smoking is bad for you."

His head whips to where the sound originates and finds Khun sitting in one of the long chairs in his colorful bedrobe with a drink in his hand. The older doesn't look at him, though. Something is brewing in his mind, making him unusually quiet.

"Why haven't you slept, P'Khun?"

Khun scoffs, "Why haven't you?", he fires back. Chay only gives him a little smile. For a long moment, they just there side by side without a word. Chay looks at the sky that begins to break into dawn little by little. Khun stays in his seat and humors his thoughts while stirring his drink mindlessly.

"That's not a bad of a deal, Chay," the older breaks the silence, making Chay startle.

Khun is talking about Kim, he knows.

"He's right, you know. Nobody in this industry doesn't know what Kim can do to anyone who crosses him. He's just that good," there is a tint of pride mixed with something Chay can't quite identify. Regret?

"You'll be safest with him."

Chay knows that too. But, will his heart can withstand another heartbreak? Judging by the way his inside was acting in front of Kim tonight, Chay was sure that was where he was heading. There is no use to pretend he is not affected by Kim.

Khun stands and takes Chay's face in his hands. "I want you to be safe, Chay. But above all, I also want you to be happy. I know you. You think I don't know because you never said anything to me about him, but I do. Take the chance, Chay. Play it to your advantage. Be brave to take the necessary steps to your happiness. Take it. Sometimes in life, we can't get a second to find love."

With that, Khun leaves Chay alone.

***

Porchay knows how true Khun's words are, but he decides it isn't the time to face it. So he hides in his room for two days because he knows Kim is in the house.

Macau visits on the third day, bringing their favorite game with him. Porchay is glad that he at least can think about something other than Kim.

They are in the middle of a game when his phone receives a message from Vegas:

'Still want to learn martial arts, little one? Come down and see me sparring to know more. Bring that little shit I called brother with you.'

"Phi Vegas wants us to see him spar," Porchay says to Macau.

"Oh, you're in for an entertainment. My brother is the best at hand-on-hand combat. Well, second best."

"Who's the first?"

"Phi Kim." Macau turns his head around when Chay doesn't say a word more, worried. "Sorry," he says with a grip on Chay's shoulder. Chay just shrugs it away.

"Let's go then?"

"Just one more game," Macau asks, giving Chay his forgotten console.
***

Vegas walks into the training hall only and finds Kim working out alone again. He has boxing tapes on both of his hands and wearing basket shorts and a cutout t-shirt that shows the side of his body. His hair is neatly styled in a tight bun.

He smiles mischievously and types in his phone quickly before putting it in his back pocket again.

Contrary to what most people in The Theerapanyakul's state and company believe, he and Kim have a strange 'friendly' relationship. They are not quite to the point of hugging each other, but also not at the level of wanting to kill because they can't stand each other.

All those life-or-death missions put them in a strange relationship where they understand each other well. Maybe because they are kind of the same type of people: they will do anything to get what they want.

"Fancy seeing you here, Khun Kim," he says. Kim only gives him the side eyes and doesn't bother to say something. "Want to spar? I propose a mixed martial arts session. My body is aching to be put to work again."

Kim only gives him a little nod and waits as Vegas puts on proper equipment and costume. They enter the ring and do light movements with each other as a warm-up session.

It is then that Porchay and Macau appear.

"Woah, Phi Kim. Nice!" Macau sounds beyond excited, a thing that Porchay doesn't really understand. It seems it's not only Macau, many people have secretly gathered around the ring.

Kim's eyes are zeroing in on Porchay. "You invited them?" he asks. His body buzzed differently at the sight of Chay, humming a different tune of excitement and worry, battling out inside.

Vegas gives him a big smile. "Nongs want to learn martial arts," he says while they are still giving light blows to each other.

One of Kim's eyebrows rises, questioning and disapproving.

"Now, before you say no, it's a good thing that he wants to learn by himself and not be forced to. He can learn to defend himself too, so when the necessary time comes, there is a chance that he lives."

Kim thinks about it inside of his head. That's possible. Probably something safer, something Chay can do without putting too much stress on him.

"What do you have in mind?" Kim asks.

"Something traditional, like we are going to do now."

Vegas suddenly changes his stance and gives Kim a Muay Thai-style sidekick, something that, fortunately, Kim can block.

This shithead.

Kim watches Porchay, who is now sitting in the front row by Macau's side from his side eye. Chay's hand grips the edges of the chair.

"Pay attention, babies, because this is what you are going to learn!" Vegas shouts to Porchay and Macau.

Porchay watches as Kim's body stands to change. It's subtle, but it's there.

Both men go back and forth again, giving each other blows. The difference is now they are more serious. From the common people's perspective, Porchay thinks they are both good with different approaches to attack. Vegas is more powerful and open. While Kim, he looks like he is dancing with swift and fast movements.

Kim's eyes find Chay's, likely because he is aware that Porchay openly stares at him now. It's a wrong calculation because Vegas can give Kim a kick to his foot that makes Kim growl in pain and down to his knees.

"Phi!" Porchay isn't even aware he is shouting or then he has a hard time breathing normally until he sees Kim walk to where he is with limping feet. Worry is drawn all over his face.

"Chay," he calls. "Chay, look at me!" Kim's hands are wrapping Chay's face gently. His thumbs are brushing the delicate skin.

There is a firm command in Kim's voice, different from his movement on Chay's skin, that makes Porchay's body instantly follow.

"Breathe," Kim tells him as he himself taking a deep long breath. Porchay tries to mimic him until his lungs don't feel restricted anymore.

Now that his brain seems to function, Chay realize he is panicking. After a long time of not having an episode, it feels alien.

And having this guy successfully soothes him is even weirder.

Where did he learn this?

How can he tells the signs?

Kim is now tilting his chin again, focusing Chay's attention to himself.

"I'm ok," he says. "I'm ok. Look!" he is forcing the aching feet to move normally. "It's just a play, not serious, no harm done. Ok?"

Porchay nods. Can't figure out what else he should respond this with.

"Ok!" Kim reluctantly walks back to the ring, with different determination. When he faces Vegas again, the other says, "You're welcome!" with a wide smile.

"He is scared!" Kim hisses.

But Vegas knows better. "Just admit it. You like it he cares, you psychopath!"

Kim gives Vegas the same big smile now. "I love it!" he says before giving Vegas a swift blow to the face with his foot. It's so fast that Vegas is unable to block it.

His lower lip is bleeding.

"Fuck, Kim! Not the face, you fucker!"