The Shadow That Fell on Happiness.

For almost a month now, Boonmi had been delving into the ins and outs of the adult world. And the more he learned, the less he wanted to believe what was happening.

A kind, caring and gentle father, turned out to be a ruthless killer, sweeping away everything in his path to achieve his goal. The friend who seemed like a carefree companion turned out to be undaunted, tough and unwavering.

Boonmi realized that after he entered the anthill, the masks of the people around him came off. The only people left in front of the lad were the house manager Mali, a couple of house employees chosen by her, whom Boon had essentially never seen during the day.

Niran, who oversaw the external affairs of the company, had successfully kept it running at a high level, even with the many attacks on the corporation.

Despite his age, Trey was respected. His word was taken as an unqualified order and obeyed first. When he trained, every subordinate wanted to be his sparring partner. It was Trey who was Boonmi's second significant shock.

By the time the guy had begun to have a general understanding of what was going on, who was coming from where and with what, who was the enemy and who to watch out for, he was finally contemplating seeking the truth in his father's death.

"Trey, tell me, what are the odds that your father's accident was really an accident?" - The boy asked his friend.

"Ten percent at most," the calmness with which the man answered surprised Boonmi.

"You talk so calmly about death and its causes," the heir said with some resentment in his voice.

"Boonmi, you must realize the business we're in. Buddy, I realize you're far from it, I can see how you don't like it all. But think about it, this is what your father spent years building. For you!"

"But I didn't ask for it! He told me he was building things, but in fact he was killing people for other people's guns."

"But he saved a lot more people!" - Trey objected, pressing the window button.

"Look! Every one of them owes their lives to your father! All of them are here voluntarily. Some he raised from a juvenile bully, to a professional killer. Gave them shelter, good wages and a chance to live a quiet, dignified old age. And, despite the fact that he's had people die, but he's saved many more from shoddy real estate developers, from left-wing gun buyers, from sellers who sell ammunition to terrorists. Yes, he is not a perfect Robin Hood and his position in society very clearly describes who he is. But he was and still is your father, who loved you more than life. Leaving you as far away from the dark side of this world as possible, allowing you to enjoy a comfortable existence, creativity, yes just to live as you want! And he left it all, to you!" - Trey scolded his friend.

"As if there were any other options," grinned Boonmi.

Trey only shook his head.

"We've got company," the man was heard over the walkie-talkie.

Just then, already in Trey's earpiece, came the information about who had arrived.

"It's Vago. Says he wants to buy something from his personal supplies," he immediately reported to the guy.

"Can't keep him on the doorstep. Let him drive," Boonmi sighed.

Standing in front of the window and watching the guests, the boy suddenly said, "What's that Nanook doing here again?"

"Who?" marveled Trey.

"A polar bear on Inuktitut. There's a movie like that by Robert Flaherty called Nanook of the North."

"About bears?" - he clarified.

"About people living in the polar regions of Canada."

"Hmm. And as far as I know, Wago was born in Canada..." - Trey said thoughtfully.

Only grinning at his blind hit on the truth, Boone closed the window, leaning against the wall.

"Hello Khun Pattana, to what do we owe your personal visit? As far as I know, no arrangements have been broken," Trey greeted the guests.

The man who entered was surprised at the change in the guy's appearance. Changed into a suit similar to his subordinates, tired look, and that crease between his eyebrows. The lad looked older than his age. There was no trace of the cheerful kid he had seen in the pictures provided by the subordinates.

"Good afternoon, I see you've already joined the beautiful world of darkness," the man smiled.

He was wearing casual clothes today, which didn't make him look any less handsome. Classic jeans, a loose T-shirt and sneakers only emphasized his impressive form.

"What happened to your arm?" - The guy's quiet voice surprised Vago.

As was the fact that he was paying attention at all. The man's forearm was bandaged, with only the edge of the bandage visible from under his sleeve.

"And that, in fact, is one of the reasons for my visit. A few months ago, your father, said he had found suppliers of advanced armor vests. With a large area of protection. I would like to purchase for my personal use and the team's."

"Trey, do we have any possibility of re-purchasing these suits?" - Turned to his friend Boonmi.

"We have a good stockpile, and yes, there are supply channels."

"How much quantity are we talking about?" - The boy asked looking into the man's eyes.

"I'm thinking about a hundred at first. Willing to pay double that amount," the man continued to smile.

"Good. My men will prepare the contract. You can leave the size and number of them to Trey," Boonmi realized he had his closest ally and biggest enemy in front of him.

And stirring up a quarrel now was not at all necessary. Who knows, he might have to ask for more help.

"Would you like coffee or a snack? The cooks have made delicious muffins," a caring host will always offer treats.

"Are you serious? Cupcakes?" - Vago grinned.

"You don't eat homemade desserts? Or are you afraid I'll poison you?"

"It's even interesting, let's try it," the man muttered, suppressing a laugh.

"Trey, go order, have them bring drinks and appetizers for five. Your men won't turn out, will they?" - He glanced at Vago.

No, if you're buying, they won't refuse," the guest nodded.

Trey looked at Boonmi unflinchingly, as if to say he couldn't come out.

"Oh, if he wanted to kill me, we'd be dead by now. As long as you get out before the kitchen, nothing will happen," the boy grinned, sitting down in his chair.

"You're different from your father," the man pronounced.

"The man you knew is very different from my father," the guy said sullenly.

"This is the real world. It's either you or you here. If your father, wasn't the man you recognize him as now and lived with your outlook on life, he'd probably still be a simple house painter," the man spoke relaxedly, no trace of the politeness shown a couple minutes ago.

"You tell me more about the laws of the jungle," the guy sarcastically said, which both made Vago laugh and annoyed him at the same time.

"I'll tell you as a man who respects your father's memory. Pack your things and run. The farther away the better. This jungle, as you put it, will swallow you up that even your own uncle won't help. While you have the chance, give it all up and go. Don't get in the way of big uncles making money."

"Like I want to be here! I'm 20! I'm an artist! I want to see beautiful things, not all this," pointing to the mirrored window, Boonmi spoke emotionally, "I want to walk around Paris. I want to be with beautiful people. I want to be in the Prado enjoying the Surbaran originals. Although, to whom am I saying this, how can a man like you know anything about art?" - Boon said the last phrase much more quietly.

"The Crown Prince considers us common people to be inferior to himself. In his majesty's eyes, I'm just a barbarian who doesn't know the world," Vago smiled wickedly.

"A barbarian, you are. And mind you, I didn't say that," the boy said uncertainly, but there was no retreat.

"And what do you think a man like me doesn't know? Perhaps the history of Spain's most popular national museum for tourists? Which, if memory serves me correctly, was founded by Charles III, mentioned by you as the Prado and located in Madrid. Or that a member of the permanent exhibition is Francisco de Zurbarán, a painter of the golden age of culture who flawlessly rendered portraits. Or how about discussing artist Jacob Reisdon's most beautiful landscapes? Or is it beneath your dignity to discuss a beech forest in a thunderstorm with one like me?" - Vago didn't move as he spoke, but Boonmi felt with every cell the full force of his angry aura enveloping the boy.

Vago, satisfied with the effect he had produced, watched the confused expression on the kid's face for a few more seconds.

"Before you blab something, you should study the person you're talking to! Otherwise, you risk ending up with the same retarded look on your face, and who would want to make a deal with you?" Vago continued to say, enjoying the kid's reaction to his words.

Boonmi stared at the man, not daring to blink. Everything about him now frightened him, and attracted him at the same time. His voice was mesmerizing, his confidence and strength like the thunderous wind in the painting he mentioned had swept away all of the guy's courage. But what surprised him even more was that the man's words were not without meaning. He was so fixated on the identity of his late father, who was clearly no help to him right now, that he had completely forgotten about due diligence with those in the immediate vicinity who carried real danger.

"Hahah! You only have to say 'Come closer monkey', but I'm glad you're thinking about it, not all is lost then," Boonmi was brought out of his trance by the guest's laughing bass.

"Thank you!" the boy said sincerely, looking Wago in the eye.

"Are you really brave, or are you too stupid?" - The man continued laughing.

At that moment, Trey came back into the office, Vago's words concerned him.

"Is everything okay?" - He asked, looking anxiously at Boonmi.

"Yes, Khun Pattana, as a caring elder gives me helpful advice," hiding his slip behind a lie.

"Master's experience is expensive," Trey nodded reassuringly.

"Yes, expensive, lives..." replied Raon thoughtfully, sitting next to his boss on the couch.

"It seems, Trey, I've accidentally added to your workload," Vago said, smiling.

Raon's phrase cut deep into Boonmi's heart. Soon, treats and drinks were brought, but the boy didn't really follow the conversation. He wondered what Vago had been through, whether he had been as frightened and difficult as Boon had been at the beginning, when he had set out on this path. What this man, who looked so much like a polar bear, was still doing in Thailand.

***

A few weeks later, Boonmi and Chakan were invited to a birthday party for one of the owners of a rival firm. Mr. Supalai had thrown a grand banquet to celebrate his fiftieth birthday. But it was an insanely boring event for the guy, he still didn't understand why he had to get involved in all this. Keeping up the peaceful conversations, Boonmi tried not to drink, holding the wine glass Trey had taken at the entrance, and after an hour, he hadn't even drunk half of it.

Standing with a bored look, he considered the people whose information he had been studying over the past few weeks. How fake these people were. At the last party the guy had attended with his father, these people had been presented as people of exceptional integrity. How cruel reality turns out to be.

When a thick voice was heard from the back, it wasn't difficult for the lad to unmistakably identify the owner.

"So, your uncle left you to be mauled by wild animals?" - Vago asked.

The boy half-turned his head up, glaring at the man with arrogance, and silently continued to watch the parade of hypocrisy.

"Pretty boys like you are eaten for dessert by many of the people here," the man said, outlining a semicircle with the glass he was holding, pointing at the people present.

"Are you just bored, or do you care for me that much?" - the guy raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise, - "Or are you afraid of being outdone? I could put a 'tame bear' sign on you. I've never had such a large Umka in my collection before," Boonmi replied indifferently.

An intimidating gaze sank into the boy. The green eyes poured with a shadow of rage.

"Khun Pattana, did I say something wrong? Why so much anger in those beautiful eyes?" - The guy asked wryly.

Seeing the man looming over his friend, clearly upset about something, Trey hurriedly apologized to his interlocutor and headed towards the guy, but was stopped by Raon.

"They'll sort it out themselves," the man pronounced.

"What happened? Why is your boss furious?"

"Because your kitty forgot fear at home, or drunk, anyway, I haven't made up my mind yet, but very interesting. Yours named mine Umka, and offered to tame him," the man initiated Trey in a whisper.

"There, some information on his father came up, I wanted to call tomorrow. If they don't fight today, call me later," Trey said in the same whisper.

Meanwhile, the bosses continued their bickering.

"You're too cocky to think you can let me talk to you like that!" - growled Vago.

The man looked into the little one's eyes and didn't understand where the boldness came from.

"Aww, I didn't expect you to be so impressionable. Next time I'll definitely keep my mistake in mind and speak more gently to you," the guy smiled as he watched his interlocutor's reaction.

"If you think this kind of insolence will help you survive, I warn you, at the slightest mistake, I'll be the first to blow your head off with that pretty face."

"Then, you're right now, you must promise me the fulfillment of my last wish. Whatever I ask for," Boonmi replied with a pout.

"Other than life?" - The man clarified, smiling involuntarily.

"Well, I'm not that naive," he replied flapping his black fan of eyelashes, obviously flirting.

"Do you realize what's going on?" asked Trey.

"Nope," Raon replied faintly.

"Well, it's within my power. I promise," Vago said loudly and confidently, squaring his shoulders.

Boonmi smiled slyly and said nothing more.

"Can we go now?" - Noticing Trey, Boonmi asked.

"Yeah, everything I had planned, I've already finished," his friend nodded in response, at which point he and Raon approached the couple though.

"Vago, Trey has some information, regarding the accident," as soon as the man heard that, he immediately looked at the boy.

"Looks like I'm going to have to take you two out to dinner," the boy only nodded in agreement to Vago's phrase.

The four headed towards the parking lot exit, Pattana's family's car served first, Vago had already decided on a place for dinner, walking about five meters away from Boonmi and Trey, about to get into the Mercedes, as the sound of a machine gun blast was heard.

"Fuck!" - shouted Wago.

A startled Boonmi, seeing the gunfire in the anthill, froze with fear. Someone's strong hands grabbed him, but he couldn't understand, feeling shocked at what was happening. The sounds of gunshots, the screams of people could still be heard, but the little boy could not move or say anything.