Tuesday. September 1. 6:35

The sleeping kitten lay in Jake's arms on the bed of the hotel room, the name of which, to his dismay, he couldn't remember.

The boy's young face was so beautiful and delicate, every detail of which the man couldn't look away. His fan-shaped, dark, fluffy eyelashes fluttered slightly, his velvety, slightly reddened and puffy lips smiled, his neat, antique nose sniffed softly, and his cheeks were slightly flushed from the recent stormy first sex.

Jake hadn't gotten this emotional anywhere, ever. He couldn't help wondering how this young man was two such different selves: one soft, modest, and docile, begging to be teased, and the other strong, bold, and unwavering, daring to fight.

The man touched the sleeping man's forehead with his palm, made sure that the temperature was normal, and with the thought, "I love you," he closed his eyes, falling into a DREAM almost instantly.

Jake found himself on Samui's familiar Maenam Beach. It was where he and Chom used to spend their weekends.

The sun wasn't baking much and was approaching the horizon, drawing the attention of the man who had suddenly appeared here.

"I thought this might be a good place for our last conversation, sweetheart," Jake heard a soft voice behind him that made his heart ache and his body stiffen, unable to turn and look at the person speaking.

"Turn around, don't be afraid, I'm not a ghost, ha ha. I just thought I'd drop by for a visit while you're sleeping," the guy with Chom's voice continued talking, and the man, not realizing what was happening to him now, continued to stand as if dug into that warm white sand. Jake remembered everything perfectly, including the death of his partner and the divine night with Hope, so his brain couldn't believe what was happening.

"Boo!!!" - Chom popped up right in front of him. Yes, it was definitely him! Even his clothes were exactly the same as the last time they had been in this place: a beige short-sleeve cotton shirt, denim short shorts, blue sneakers over white golf shoes, and a black collar necklace with a four-pointed star pendant.

"Is this really a dream? It's so weird... All the memories are there, it's like I just teleported, it's so real," Jake didn't know how to react to the appearance of his former lover, so he started talking to himself, leaning into the sand, balling it up in his fist and pouring it through the narrow slit between his pinky and palm. He was afraid to look up.

"You've never been a coward! What happened? Look at me," the man he'd lived the better half of his life with chuckled.

"I'm not scared, it's just..." - Jake slowly raised his head and looked up at a face that hadn't changed one bit since the last time he'd seen him.

"Have a seat. Everything that's mine is yours!" - Chom chuckled again, pushing Jake onto the sand, and sitting down beside him, he continued:

"We don't have much time, dear. You've never waited, have you? Conversation is inevitable, so let's get started! I see your heart is healed. I'm very glad. It was painful to watch you fall into the abyss of misery and alcohol."

The skinny guy sounded like he was aware of everything that had happened to his partner since their hasty separation.

"I'm...it's really good to see you, Chom..." - Jake finally spoke. His voice trembled slightly as on one hand he wanted to pull the man sitting next to him into a hug, on the other he couldn't do it because he already felt love for the other, which made him feel ashamed and nervous.

"Relax, please. You can't change anything anymore, I'm no longer in your world. And I'm immensely happy that you found the man who helped you break out of your prison of grief and sadness... His name is Hope, right?"

"Yes..."

"Hope...that's great! You got it with this guy. I'd really like to meet him."

"You're very different..."

"Ha, you don't think we'd get along?" - laughed Chom.

"You know, he's... open, naive, honest, and in some places so assertive and determined to the point of bloody eyes... Ha! My head is completely blown off! I can't imagine life without him now... I'm sorry..."

"Oooh, what are you doing? There's absolutely nothing to apologize for. If I were still alive... I'd definitely put C₂₀H₂₇NO₁₁," Chom interrupted Jake, making a joke of it, and then stopped talking for a second, frowning, and said the following:

"I know you have the flash drive, the one shaped like a heart, and you carry it with you at all times, but you've never opened it. Mark my next words. It has important information on it. Use it carefully... I want my death... not to be in vain. The password is the same as the lock on our apartment."

(From the author: C₂₀H₂₂₇NO₁₁₁ is an organic compound, a gencibioside of almond acid nitrile. A cyanogenic glycoside found in the kernels of the pits and seeds of many plants of the genus Plum and the tribe Apple, giving them a bitter flavor).

"What do you mean?" - this information made Jake worried.

"I wanted to stop everything...when I found out the truth..." - Chom tried to say something, looking at the sun setting over the horizon, but before he could finish, he turned sharply to his interlocutor:

"Our time is coming to an end, dear. Unfortunately, in this place it does not flow, but flies at the speed of light. Honey, remember me as the Chom who loved you and was always on the side of good. I didn't know what a terrible net I had fallen into... I was extremely careless..... Know that I want you to be happy. Give yourself a chance with this guy for a cloudless, joy-filled life! Love him and let me go."

Chom's face was getting blurrier by the second. Jake reached out and touched his cheek:

"Chom! Thanks, Chom!"

The man wanted to say one last thing, hot tears streaming down his cheeks... but he was abruptly pulled from that place by a soft, native voice:

"Who is... Chom, Hia?"

The boundary between dream and reality became clear again. Jake saw the kitten's surprised face and tried to come to his senses, realizing that it had only been a dream and now he was awake.  Sitting up, he grabbed his head with his hands. He needed time to digest Chom's words, but the Hope's confidently asked question from behind him didn't give him a couple seconds:

"Who is Chom? You called me by someone else's name."

"Did I do that in reality?"

"Sorry, I was just rambling... I'll tell you all about it," Jake didn't recognize his voice as he turned around and tried to calm Hope down.

It was hard to gather his thoughts. The face of the man he'd lost, the man he'd once loved with all his heart, was in front of his eyes. But Jake tried to shake off the vision and, seeing the worry in the ocean-colored eyes, accepted for himself the inevitable. He had to finally tell Hope his story, so he began hastily and tentatively:

"When we first met you... at the Club... I was pretty depressed... Remember?"

Kitten nodded, and tentatively touched his fingers to his hand, gazing reverently into his eyes.

"I was in a terrible state of mind at that moment, as I grieved the loss of an important part of my life. It was Chom..." - Jake paused again, trying to organize his thoughts into a logical sequence, but suddenly something went wrong:

"I remember that day. You said you lost a loved one and... you liked my eyes... Does that mean...? Hia... show me his picture... you're sure to have at least one in your phone."

"I have to tell the story of Chom and me first," the thought rang like a bell in Jake's head, and he squeezed the boy's hands in his palms and replied:

"Not on the phone, I changed it. Kitten, please hear me out..."

"Please hear me out!"

"There's probably one on the internet. Show it to me," Hope was adamant, one thing read in his darkened oceans and across his tense body-he wouldn't roll over, wouldn't stop demanding Chom's picture. Jake had no choice but to give in, but he had no idea how that would turn out in the end.

The man got out of bed, walked to his backpack for the flash drive that contained the pictures of him and Chom. He froze with it in his hands for a moment as it began to dawn on him what the first thing his kitten would think of when she saw his ex-boyfriend.

Jake walked back to the bed and pulled the adapter wire and a small heart-shaped flash drive out of his backpack, trying to formulate in his head the words he would say to his kitten.

But as he touched the flash drive with his fingers, he felt an ache in his heart and soul. Jake wasn't ready to look at his momentarily shattered happy life right now, even after Chom's last words in his dream.

"Why don't you give me a chance to speak up first?" - he made another attempt, nervously rubbing the small sized thing with his fingers.

"Photos first, Hia," there was no choice, so Jake attached the wire to the phone and inserted the flash drive into the other end, removing the cap first.

"I've never opened it yet..." - the man muttered quietly, and, not wanting to look into the phone, placed it on the bed.

What happened next was like a nightmare. Hope looked at the photo and quietly, monotonously confirmed his outward resemblance to Chom. Jake tried to explain that he'd fallen in love with him, Hope, without any projection onto Chom, but the boy wouldn't listen and was growing more and more distant in his thoughts and actions.

If there would have been five or ten minutes for Jake to stop the broken conveyor belt and fix it by saying more appropriate words, but he didn't have a chance to exhale, the belt carried inexorably forward, creating mangled parts.

The result was Hope's complete detachment from him, his blue eyes cold and as if shrouded in a veil. After Jake's words, "...LOVE YOU!" the kitten's cry put a stop to the man's now meaningless words and actions:

"Noooo! Stop! Please, Hia!"

At that moment, Jake was gripped by the fear of losing the one he loved. He sat silently on the bed, listening to his frantically beating heart, and watched as Hope slowly pulled on his clothes. The man was afraid to touch him, to hurt his neat body even more. The guilt he felt for the state his lover was in now gave him no strength to come over, to hug him, to help him, to make another attempt to explain.

When the boy left the room, Jake, grabbing his things hastily, followed him. They took the elevator downstairs together, but it was as if his treasure didn't notice anything around him. Then the man followed the kitten's gaze down the street for a couple of blocks before Hope stopped at a bus stop and sat down on an empty bench.

"Baby, please, put the thoughts that are tormenting you out of your mind. You've got it all wrong. I can explain," Jake took a step toward the boy, but then back again:

"What if I make it worse?"

After about ten minutes, the man decided to walk over and offer his lover some help, but just then he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone.

Jake could hear his conversation with Troy hiding behind the opaque wall of the bus stop. As soon as they were finished, he dialed Hope's guardian, and after one dial tone, the cutting voice of a gray-haired man came through the phone:

📞 "Yoooou!!!! Where are you? Where's Hope?"

📞 "Khun Troy, he's at the bus stop on Hua Hin 72, by the Amazon Cafe. Will you pick him up?"

📞 "I'm already driving. Are you next to him?" - There was the loud sound of a door slamming shut in the background.

📞 "Yes."

📞 "Watch him until I get there. I'll be there in fifteen minutes. From what I've heard, he's in really bad shape! And I can guess who's to blame! Didn't I tell you, Jake? You ignored my words! That's it! I'm moving out," the man's words made my insides clench even tighter.

📞 "Yeah... you did," Jake said quietly into the void as the person he was talking to had already hung up.

Looking behind the partition, he saw a hunched, pale Hope, his tears dripping silently from his chin onto the hands folded in his lap.

Jake's heart clenched so tightly that his limbs went numb, not getting enough blood. He bit down hard on his lip, feeling the metallic taste in his mouth, and mentally slapped himself in the face a few times.

Because there was a reason for that! For not curbing his animal desires and not talking to the kitten sooner, for giving in to his entreaties and sleeping with him, even though he knew he should have first disarmed the bomb that could explode at any moment, and then invited guests to his booby-trapped abode.

The man looked at the suffering kitten and blamed himself for everything that was happening to them now.

The sound of brakes at the bus stop brought Jake back to reality. Troy gave him an unkind look and walked over to his son. Their conversation was short, Hope barely uttered a wish to go home, and they were gone in a minute.

"Aaaaaaahhhh," Jake shrieked, grabbing his head, which startled random passersby.

He should have gone to Tong, Jake was already late, but he stood there, unable to move himself, wondering how he could make it up to him.

With hesitant movements, he dialed Troy again:

📞 "What?" - As if metal had been struck through his eardrum.

📞 "Is he going back to the Marriott Hua Hin?" - Jake wanted to get just a little bit of information so he could build a future plan of action.

📞 "He's not coming back! We're going home."

📞 "I'll take care of business and come over! I need to talk to him."

📞 "Don't you dare show up at our house! He's in no condition to talk right now. I warned you!" - The angrily voiced reply put an end to this short conversation and a beeping sound was heard. These monotonous sounds were like a series of long Morse code signals that conveyed to Jake who knew her the following information: "Zero! Zero! Void! You've lost everything again!"

"Nooo! This can't be happening! I'm going to fix it! I'll get him back!" - A dissenting consciousness roared, and his heart pounding against his chest echoed it. With his whole being, Jake resisted Troy's words and the foreboding signals, and he took a quick step toward the hospital.

He wanted to get his business done, to get off work and go to Bangkok to try to get his soul mate back again.

Tong was feeling much better, he even smiled when he saw the coach walking in with bags of goodies. His parents were due to arrive soon, so Jake listened to the doctor, gave the boy some instructions, and went to the hotel.

On the way, he called the school principal and asked for at least a day to settle things in town, and, surprisingly, he got it easily.

All the items of the plan for the near future closed easily and at ease, but impatience and excitement were building up. The man wanted to see his baby boy as soon as possible. Dozens of variants of their meeting and conversation were scrolling in his head, and in each of them everything ended with an embrace with his beloved and their reunion. 

He took the bus to the Marriott Hua Hin to pick up his things and was not happy when he was slowed down twice.

The first time it happened in the hotel lobby. The green-eyed owner of the place had suddenly appeared in front of him out of nowhere and Jake had even lost his balance for a second as he had to stop abruptly, but he had only touched the emotionless rock with his palms slightly out in front of him. The man then defiantly wiped his hands on his shorts and defiantly asked:

"What?"

"How impolitely. Not even a hello?" - Oliver's colorless voice again surprised the man slightly.

"I'm in a hurry," Jake cut him off, trying to get around the broad-shouldered guy, but he took a step and blocked his path again:

"Hope checked out of his room early. Did something happen?"

"Khun Oliver, Hope's business is none of your concern. He's clearly made it clear to you that he's not interested in you, and he's already in a relationship," Jake was angry at this unexpected meeting and Oliver's obvious interest in his kitten, but he tried to keep his cool.

"You know so much about your students, Coach," not a muscle twitching in his face, his tone flat and without intonation, but there was aggression in his words and in his fiery eyes.

Jake gave his companion a searing glare and, coming very close to him, said quietly and unkindly: "You've got a point, Khun. This fella is busy, and there's nothing in that direction for you."

"I'm not so sure. It takes time for Hope to realize that I'm his best bet, I can give him more than you can, and you have a solid age difference. Why don't you, Khun Jake, find someone a little older? I'm afraid you can't pull him off," at those words, the cheekbones on the stone face twitched a couple times.

"Ohoho, I can see how hard you're trying to hurt my feelings, but I'm sorry, it's all for nothing. Excuse me, I'm in a hurry and can't spare any more time for your marble persona. Try to come up with better reasons for me to give up on him for now," Jake put his foot down again to get around the man in his way, but he was clearly not willing to let him go:

"Are the school authorities aware that you're in a relationship with a student?"

"And you want to report it? Go ahead! He and I will still be together and happy no matter what," Jake muttered his last words and headed toward the stairs.

Did Jake fear the revelation of his and Hope's relationship at that moment? No. All he wanted was for the kitten to listen, to understand, and to love him as he had before.

For the second time, Jake had to stop at the door of his room as he was called out:

"P! And I was looking for you!"

"Just what I needed right now!" - with these thoughts, the man turned and looked at the English teacher fluttering down the hallway towards him.

"Greetings, Nong'Radi. What do you need me for?" - He asked with impatience in his voice.

"I haven't seen you since the incident with Tong. I know he's doing quite well. It's great that everything turned out okay," the woman paused and, devouring him with her gaze, began nibbling her lip and twirling the curls of her hair on her finger.

"And?" - Jake was no longer hiding his intense irritation.

"Now since things have settled down and the kids are on their afternoon break, why don't we... have tea in my room?" - Radi sang sweetly, running a finger over her ample breasts jutting out of her blouse.

"Nong'Radi, I've already told you once, but I see it's not enough. I already have a soulmate, and I'm a one-woman man! And you! Quiet your fervor! Modest and gentle, showing their sexual nature only behind a locked door, much more attractive to men than all this. At least men like me. Consider this advice from a senior colleague," Jake gave the shameless girl a stern reprimand and entered the room, slamming the door loudly in front of her sobbing face.

***

"Gods! I beg you! Be on my side! I just need to meet him and talk to him!" - He cried out to the heavens and frantically clutched his travel bag as he took a cab to Bangkok.

The closer he got to his target, the more he wanted to see his baby and make things right as soon as possible. The muscles of his body tensed, contracting into a spring, ready to sprint at any moment. So when the car stopped in front of a familiar two-story house, Jake quickly put the bills in the cabbie's hand and sprinted out.

Jake opened the gate and ran to the porch, but before he reached it, he had to stop because the owner of the house came out. Troy came down the steps with a heavy step, and, coming within arm's length, made a fist with his right hand....

The next second, Jake was lying on the lawn with his hand to his face. He was in a lot of pain, his left eye burning and watering, but he didn't make a sound. He wasn't angry at the gray-haired man, because he respected him and knew he was always accountable for his words.

"Even is he kills me, I will not leave. I won't give up trying to get Hope back!" - Jake's determination hadn't left him after the blow he'd received, and he got to his feet.

Troy sat down on the bottom step of the stairs, sighed, and spoke calmly:

"That's for causing him to be in this condition. I promised - I did. Now sit down and talk to me."

The man patted his palm on the wooden step beside him, and Jake, mentally thanking Troy for the chance, walked over and sat down in the designated seat.

It was past three o'clock, but the sun was blazing. Heat and pain pulsed through Jake's body as he tried to formulate his thoughts. The words he'd prepared on the cab ride to the capital were knocked out with a heavy hand as if they hadn't even existed.

"Here you go, P. Put it to your eye," came from behind him.

The men turned their heads. Squatting behind them was the sunny member of this family, who was holding out a towel to his guest.

"Thanks," Jake thanked him and applied the icy cloth to his throbbing abrasion.

"You're following me, kid, aren't you?" - Troy chuckled.

"No, no, I was just adjusting the curtains and suddenly, quite by accident, I saw your warm greeting," Panit smiled sweetly, hugging his Yeti around the neck.

"Ahem, I'm the one who blessed him like that. Hopefully I won't have to repeat it after he tells you everything," Troy chuckled again and squinted in the direction of his guest.

"Why don't we at least make our way to the porch? I'll get you some iced tea with dried fruit to temper the conversation and make it sweeter," the kid stroked his gray hair and spoke slowly in a velvet voice as if hypnotizing his partner.

"How can I say no to you, kid...? Jake, get up! I'm not inviting you into the house, even though my son is asleep, but... you know," Troy stood up and shook off his light colored pants.

The man with the towel by his eye stood up as well:

"I understand. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to explain."

"Make it worth it. I hope you'll be honest. And then we'll make a decision," Jake felt no coldness or anger in the green eyes as well as the words spoken. The gods had heard him and given him a chance, and he wasn't going to miss it.

When they sat down under the shade of the roof on wooden chairs at a small, round, old table where the sun's rays didn't touch them, Jake felt better.

"I was dreaming..." - he began, but was immediately stopped by Troy sitting across from him and glaring at him:

"Wait! I want my wise mate to be present when we talk. He's going to torture me later anyway."

The green-eyed man pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit a cigarette. Jake swallowed, staring at the burning flame on the tip of the cigarette, and when he inhaled the bitter odor, he had an unbearable urge to take a drag just once to calm his nerves.

"You smoke, Coach?" - Troy furrowed his eyebrows, letting out a ring of smoke.

"No! Or rather sometimes, but definitely not today," Jake said confidently, which was answered by a sly smile from the man sitting across from him.

"Here I am!" - Panit came out with a tray with three glasses and a bowl of dried mango on it, "Snowy, did I miss something already?"

"No, how could you? We touched a little on the subject of bad habits, that's all," Troy smiled.

"Speaking of which! Drop the cancer stick! You and I have talked about it many times," the little guy grimaced.

"One a day, especially a day like this, is fine," the landlord mumbled, which caused the guest to smile, but it immediately melted under the man's menacing, hawkish gaze:

"Begin! Let's see WHAT kind of reaction we get to your words."

Jake didn't wait and began to recount the events of this morning, starting with his dream. No one interrupted him, but Hope's guardian frowned at some points, but remained silent.

After the story was over, there was silence. It pressed on Jake, so he added:

"Khun Troy, I love your son very much. I confessed it to him yesterday while we were at the hotel..."

"By the way, what have you two doing last night?" - The man was immediately alerted.

"Talked and..." - Jake began, unsure how to break the news that he and Hope had had sex, and more importantly, how Troy would react.

"Tea drinking and talking for over twelve hours, judging by the fact that you didn't get to bed until just before morning? Ha, well then, what, you didn't use that time for good then, my dear, and tell him about the ex?" - chuckled the landlord unkindly, and his gaze seemed about to burn a huge hole between his guest's eyes.

"How is he? No fever or...?" - Jake decided to ignore the questions and ask his own, which he was very concerned about.

"Don't worry, P. I've given him everything he needs. He'll be fine in a couple days," Panit winked at him.

"What did you give him besides the menpo? What are the secrets behind my back?" - Troy glanced here and there.

"We had everything," Jake admitted quietly, deciding not to hide it.

"ALL of it, you mean? You had, you say?" - The gray-haired man tapped his fingers on the tabletop, clearly getting worked up, but his rising anger was defeated by a light kiss on the cheek.

"Honey, that was to be expected. So much love, mmmmm! You couldn't help yourself either," Panit chirped in a sweet voice, sitting down on his Yeti's lap and running his fingers over his forehead as if dispersing clouds.

Troy relaxed, but still the metal rattled in his next words:

"I hope my son fucked your ass!"

"Nooo, Snowy, don't be rude," the sunny boy stretched out and kissed the man weightlessly on the lips.

"What did I say wrong? I've got him strong! The face of a doe and the heart of a tiger!" - Troy did not relent.

"I'll give him anything he wants. Just give me a chance to calmly explain everything," Jake muttered, at this point his ass didn't seem like anything of value to him.

"Okay, I'll talk to him tomorrow. Been sitting there all day, silent as a snail, shut up in his shell. I'll try to get our quiet one to get emotional so he'll finally share his feelings. I wonder what kind of thoughts are hiding in this bright head now? Oh, young people. Emotions must be controlled. Learn from me. Nothing can make me mad except the death of my loved ones."

After the last words, Panit pressed harder against Yeti and nuzzled into his neck.

"That's it. It's time for bed. Go home, Jake," Standing up with his sunshine in his arms, Troy placed a pack of cigarettes and a lighter on the table and took a few steps towards the door.

"With your permission I'd like to stay here," Jake said confidently. He didn't want to leave, wanting to be as close to his lover as possible.

"As you wish," Troy tossed and disappeared with his neat burden out the door.

"Oh, that went pretty well. Now it's time to think about what I'm going to tell Hope tomorrow..." - Jake was ready to brainstorm, but again he heard the creak of the door opening.

"He won't wake up until morning, so you can sleep on the rocking chair, here's a comforter, a bottle of water, and there's food in the container, you must be hungry. I'm going to turn on the mosquito coil now," Panit placed the folded soft blanket on the man's lap, he piled everything else on the table and started lighting the mosquito poison.

"Sunshine, are you fostering a stray puppy again?" - chuckled Troy, looking out the open window.

Jake jumped up, startled, as the man's voice came from right behind him. The plaid fell to the floor, and he stood at attention.

A second later there was the simultaneous laughter of a couple.

"Honey, you shouldn't scare the cute puppies like that," Panit reprimanded his man without interrupting the fun.

"Baby, it's not my fault he's so scared of me. I'm like.." - Troy thought for a moment.

"Future father-in-law?" - Panit gave out.

"Shh! I was going to say the scary Yeti! Agrrrrrrr!" - growled the master of the house, and then in a military manner gave the order, "Soldier, at ease! At eight o'clock in the morning you will go outside the wicket, so as not to embarrass my son."

"Try to get some sleep, P.," said Panit softly.

"Thank you!" - Jake hurriedly thanked the kind kid and sat down in the rocking chair as he left to return to his musings. He wanted very much to grab the packet from the table, but Jake remembered his words, "But certainly not tonight," to the landlord, and overcame the urge.

He fell asleep and woke up many times that night. At 3 a.m., sleep threw him back into the cool nighttime reality, and with a sigh, the man reached for a cigarette.

"I miss you so much, baby. I'm sorry I hurt you. I'm sorry I couldn't make things clearer, properly. I want to hold you and hold you close and never, ever let you go again," Jake thought as he took one last puff and placed the butt in the glass ashtray.

Closing his eyes, he found himself on the edge of reality. The naked kitten was sitting on top of him, clutching his waist tightly with her legs, and whispered softly:

"I too...I want it madly too, Hia."

***

At 7:45, Jake was awakened by Panit and the appetizing smell of food and coffee.

"Good morning, P! I brought you breakfast. Hope should be waking up soon," the friendly kid sat down in a nearby chair.

"I won't get tired of thanking you, Nong. Thank you!" - Jake got up from the rocking chair and moved over to the chair.

"Aha, there you are! I was wondering why my sunshine was missing, but it's back to feeding the abandoned shaggy cats," Troy, like a satellite of a planet called Panit, kept close to his lover.

After he heard that, Jake immediately began smoothing his tangled hair with his fingers, while saying hello to the owner of the house.

"Come on, eat up and get behind the fence. I'll try to get the little one's attention on you. Ugh, you have to tune in. If I get caught, it's all my fault, you know that!" - Troy was rubbing his hands together, he clearly had a plan, and Jake, agreeing to everything, nodded, swallowing large chunks of the omelet quickly.

Finished with breakfast, he walked out the wicket as agreed and stood, leaning his arms on the beige wooden fence.

"Hopefully in the future I'll help change it to a newer one. Just so long as that future happens near you, kitten. In your arms! I'd do anything for that! Please, just hear me out!" - These and many other hope-filled thoughts rose in Jake's mind as he waited.

Time passed languidly slowly. The anxiety grew more and more intense, and the man had to wipe his sweaty palms against his clothes frequently.

At one point he felt something and looked out the second floor window, but saw nothing.

Ten minutes later his phone rang, it was Troy:

📞 "Okay, the ice has moved, but so far this iceberg is cold. It's going to take time to melt it."

📞 "What did he say?" - The waiting man's heart was ready to jump out of his chest.

📞 "Said he loves you, you hornless goat, but he's not sure it's reciprocated. Be patient, and go about your business. We'll have to hold off on talking, he's not ready yet. I'm hanging up."

"You're wrong, baby!!! I love you so much!!!!" - Jake wanted to shout across the neighborhood, professing his love to Hope, but restrained himself because of his feelings of respect and gratitude for Troy, not wanting to embarrass him in front of his neighbors.

Turning around, he slowly wandered along the street, wondering what to do next. He had only been released for twenty-four hours, which meant he had to return to Hua Hin to bring the class under his control safely to the end of this trip.

Driving home and changing clothes, Jake went through his bag and put clean things in it. When it came to his backpack, the first thing he fumbled with his fingers in the pocket was a heart-shaped flash drive. The man frowned, threw it on the table, and quickly left the apartment.

He wasn't angry at Chom, but at himself. For not pulling himself together at the right moment, for having to go somewhere he didn't want to go, for being separated from his kitten for at least two days.

***

Until Friday night, Jake was in painful irritation, his soul languished with green longing for Hope, he felt weak in its merciless, slimy grip.

At first he was bombarded with countless questions about where the bruise had come from, why he had been away for twenty-four hours, whether Tong and Hope were all right, and so on. The man tried to answer them at first, but then he simply shut himself off behind a mask of irritation, and they were afraid to approach him. He was just doing his job, nothing more. The vivacious, cheerful coach had become a lifeless puppet. Jake didn't see the point in playing the same old, unimpressed, himself.

Friday. 8:30 pm

As Jake, exhausted after a long day, entered the room, the cell phone in his pocket vibrated and the man almost shouted into the receiver when he received the long awaited call:

📞 "Yes, Khun Troy! Any news? Is he ready to talk to me?"

📞 "Shh, I'm going to go deaf like that! Hey, Jake. I have two things to do with you."

📞 "Yes, I'm listening. Speak up!"

📞 "Firstly, Hope is going to work tomorrow..."

📞 "Why? I paid for it, and besides tomorrow is Saturday," Jake didn't understand.

📞 "Gods! What are your tongues doing when you're together? Clearly not conveying the right information...! Oh!... On weekends, Hope works as a waiter at the same club, just in different areas. Shifts run from 3:00 to 24:00. I'm asking you to keep an eye on him since me and my boys are not allowed in."

📞 "Got it! Good. I will, Khun Troy!"

📞 "Just... it's... There's special rules... Okay, you'll figure it out on the spot. Honestly, I'd like to see your reaction to be two hundred percent sure..."

📞 "What do you mean?"

📞 "Nothing. Just thinking out loud. Let's move on to the second question. I transferred four million into your account. Pay back your debt to your parents, buy some normal clothes for the Club, the rest too, I hope it will go for the good of my son..."

📞 "Khun Troy! I can do it on my own, honestly! I've almost arranged for a part-time job as a trainer at the fitness club."

📞 "That's all great, but I won't take the money back. Period. And I'm paying for Hope's next month too, and that's out of the question too."

Jake had studied the man well enough by now to realize - arguing now was pointless:

📞 "I understand, Khun Troy. Thank you!"

📞 "That's it, go on watch tomorrow at 3pm, soldier! Hanging up."

Jake collapsed back onto the bed, and the battle began again in his head, each thought believing itself to be the most important and wanting to be heard, trying to make its way to the head of this endless string:

"What are the rules there? Do waiters have any other duties besides the basic ones?"

"Why isn't Troy allowed in this club?"

"If we'd talked more kitten, I wouldn't be in this situation."

"The money is really on the account. Now how do I repay Troy for his help?"

Jake fell asleep close to two in the morning, and when he heard the alarm clock, he thought he hadn't slept at all, but had just closed his eyes for a second.

"I'll sleep on the bus!" - jumping out of bed, he thought.

Departure from the hotel was scheduled for 10:00. The kids were given a chance to splash around after breakfast and pack their bags. Time passed quickly in the morning rush, and on the bus, Jake put on his headphones and fell asleep.

***

Once home, the man took a quick shower, put on a white shirt, jeans and a dark jacket, and sat down at his desk. With an hour to go, he started tearing A4 sheets of paper for the printer into small shreds to pass the time.

Suddenly his gaze fell on a metal heart lying on top of the keyboard. Jake picked it up and twirled it between his fingers.

"Gotta get this over with," he thought as he quickly turned on the computer and inserted the flash drive into the correct slot.

As he double-clicked on one of the folders, he saw a multitude of photos, each with his and Chom's happy faces on them. One was different from the rest, it showed Jake looking at his lover. The man remembered that day vividly. It was then that he had clearly realized that he couldn't imagine his life without this man.

"Chom, thank you for the happy life you have given me and for blessing me. I'm letting you go, darling.  I'll keep just that look in my eyes," Jake dropped one photo onto the desktop of his computer, then selected all the folders on the flash drive and pressed the Delete button with no regrets.

He immediately turned around in the swivel chair toward the window and looked out at the stone city lit by the bright sun:

"Chom is in the past. Hope, kitten, I have only you in my heart and in my thoughts now. Let me just explain everything to you."

***

Entering the Red Dragon, Jake first let the young boy who greeted him escort him into the restaurant and looked for Hope there for a while. He wasn't here, so he stepped out into the hallway and decided to go into the bar area, which he'd already been in that very first day he'd met the kitten.

Sitting down at the counter and ordering a fresh squeezed juice, he looked around. Three guys in see-through T-shirts were serving food and drinks to customers seated at tables enclosed by dark, heavy curtains. When his gaze suddenly fell on one of the waiters, who, in yet another of his approaches, had been grabbed by a customer and sat on his lap, Jake finally realized the meaning of Troy's words. He watched in horror as the customer slid his thick fingers down the guy's pants and his huge lips and vile tongue explored his neck.

Unable to watch it any longer, Jake jumped up from his seat and headed for Zone Three, and with each step, images of that fat hog touching his kitty floated through his mind. His breathing became ragged, his pulse quickened, he was almost running with the thought:

"Where are you, baby?"

The clubhouse was dark and loud. Jake ignored the manager's greeting, his gaze wandering restlessly around the huge room and finally catching on a familiar silhouette, like a cat nimbly circling everything in its path.

Exhaling a little, he informed the employee that he needed a table for one person and proceeded to the offered table.

"Why don't you order something right away?" - The smiling manager asked, holding out a bar card.

"Okay. I'll have a Sunset on the Beach, please," Jake said, glancing at the menu. That cocktail name evoked pleasant memories of a trip to Hua Hin, with the rays of the setting sun playing with the young wheat in a kitten's hair.

Ten minutes later, a branded cup holder was placed on his table and a glass with an orange drink was placed on it. Jake turned and saw Hope, who in turn didn't even look at him. Or had he just ignored him, since he didn't want to see him? The boy was about to run away, but the man firmly grabbed his wrist and, raising his head, spoke his request to him again quite loudly:

"Please, kitten, talk to me. Just once. I only need half an hour-at least fifteen minutes."

But Hope, leaning over slightly, replied that he couldn't give him the time because he was on duty, and pulled his hand sharply from his palms and returned to the bar.

Jake made no further attempt to speak, but kept a steady eye on his lover's every move. As he approached another customer, the man's breath hitched and the same thought pounded in his head:

"Don't you dare to try to touch him, you bastard!"

Jake sipped a sunny cocktail for three hours, and then ordered soft drinks and food a couple more times. Hope brought them and left immediately, and though it frustrated the man, he wasn't about to leave his post.

By 10 p.m., almost the entire room was filled, and the man found it increasingly difficult to watch his baby from his vantage point. He sometimes got up and walked along the dance floor, watching with his eyes the quick movements of the guy in the white robe that was too short for Jake's taste. It was a good thing none of the customers had their grubby hands on his treasure. It was just a little while before the end of their shift together.

After the end of the drum show, which was very loud and colorful, the performers who had recently performed on the huge stage sat down at the table next to Jake's, which had been empty all evening.

Jake could see their carnivorous eyes on the kid who had brought them drinks, and he could hear their laughter as he moved away from the table.

At one approach, one of the already drunken drummers yelled out:

"Hey, baby! Don't run away, sweetie! We're aware of the Club's rules! Come here."

"Bastard! Don't you dare!" - All of Jake's insides tensed to the max, he stood up and clenched his fists, a gentle, pleading thought flashed through his mind in a second, "Kitten, don't listen to him. Go away!"

But Hope still walked slowly toward the table, and one of the performers grabbed him and, turning the dazed little fellow with his back to him, whispered something in his ear.

The bastards at the same table were laughing and shouting, but Jake couldn't hear or see anything except for the hands of the asshole, which unfastened the belt of the kitten's robe and greedily stroked over its belly and chest, and the begging gaze of his beloved.

Jake quickly covered the short distance and shoved with both hands the freak who touched the holy treasure, so that he fell back against the table. But he didn't give up, and returned to his original position, so Jake slammed his fist into his face with all his might.

"You're under my protection now, kitten! I won't leave you, no matter what happens to me. I'll be your shield, your shoulder, your hope!" - high-pitched thoughts filled the ready man's head as a group of drummers jumped up from the table and rushed to the defense of one of their band members. 

Jake put Hope behind his back with a sharp movement, preparing to fight back, but Norman suddenly appeared, accompanied by a guard, flashing a white-hot smile. The manager apologized to the bastards, and Jake was grabbed under the arms and led to the exit.

The last thing he saw, and what imprinted itself on his brain, was Hope's concerned, affectionate gaze, and he stared at him for a moment before the people and decorations of the club broke the contact.

He decided to wait for the kitten outside the Club to make sure everything was all right. After a while, a familiar older car pulled up and Troy got out of it, talking on the phone.

Jake decided to wait for him to finish talking and walk over, but when he did, the guy was already running up to the car. He met his eyes with the gray-haired man, and the man shook his head. So it the right wasn't time, and Jake wandered home, hoping that tomorrow would be a good day for him.

***

In the morning, Jake received a text message from Troy:

<Troy: "Son is working at the restaurant today. This is your chance.">

The man smiled and kissed the phone. He had seen yesterday that the Red Dragon restaurant was very different from the other areas, the waiters there were fully equipped and the customers weren't pulling their grubby paws at them. So it was bound to work out. The main thing was to get the kitten to talk.

He thought for a moment and texted Troy:

<Jake: "Thanks for the info! What day was Hope born?">

<Troy: "Wednesday. Why? Decided to have a green march like they do for the King and Queen's birthday?:)">

<Jake: "You are right as always.">

(From the author: According to ancient Buddhist tradition, each day of the week has a different color: Monday - yellow, Tuesday - pink, Wednesday - green, Thursday - orange, Friday - blue, Saturday - purple, Sunday - red. 2 times a year, millions of Thais wear yellow and blue colors - on the King's birthday (coincidentally Father's Day), December 5th, and on the Queen's birthday (Mother's Day) on August 12th).

Before three o'clock in the afternoon, Jake had time to get everything done: to video-chat with his parents and send them the money he owed them, to buy a fancy green suit, and to clean the apartment thoroughly in case the kitten decided to visit today.

And then the long-awaited moment came when his love approached his desk with a light gait. Jake turned slightly in the other direction to inject a little mystery into their meeting. He knew the boy loved him, and he wanted only one thing, to tell him of their mutual feelings.

The wow effect was successful-Hope was shocked and their gazes met, but it didn't last more than twenty seconds. After Jake's words, pleading for the waiter's help in reducing his fear of the possible, irrevocable loss of his beloved, the kitten nodded his head and replied in a professional friendly tone:

"Khun, I hear you. I will take the responsibility of selecting the appropriate food and drinks for you. The wait will most likely be long."

Fifteen minutes later, Hope had already brought up and placed an acrid green-colored smoothie and century-old eggs on the table in front of the man, saying:

"The rest of the dishes ordered will be a little later. Enjoy your meal!"

The smell, as well as the sight of what was offered, was disgusting.

"So that's it then? Standing around waiting for me to swallow it? I'm going to do it! Watch closely, you little devil!"

At his lover's affectionate words about a possible meal swap, with the words, "No, no way! I'll swallow anything you suggest," Jake picked up the smoothie glass and took a sip.

"The bitterness of hell! What is that? I've never tasted anything like this in my life, even the most bitter medicines taste better!" - The man didn't seem to mind, but he narrowed his eyes and gave Hope a mental heart-to-heart, then, licking his lips and looking at the boy, he said languidly:

"Bitter, but effective. I feel better right away. Thanks!"

"You want to play? I'm ready! I see my lips beckon you? Touch them! They, too, desire only you!"

Hope blushed slightly and ran away. Jake retained the victory in this fight. Everything was going great. There was plenty of time left, and the man sighed and began to negotiate hard with his stomach, which didn't want to take what was being shoved into it. And if he had tasted century-old eggs and knew that they did not taste disgusting, and the key to success was the interrupted breathing while eating this divine dish, the case with live shrimps was worse. They jumped about the broad plate in an agony of fear of death, and the man was madly sorry to stuff these poor little things into his mouth.

When at last the most horrible meal of his life was done with, a kitten approached the table:

"Are you ready to pay?"

"No, I'm here until closing time. I have important business to attend to."

"That's another four hours. Go home."

"Well, no way! I'm not leaving without talking!"

"I'm not leaving until you and I talk."

A short time later, the little guy said something to his colleague and walked towards the restroom, glancing in the man's direction as if inviting him to have privacy with him.

"Got it! Running!" - Jake couldn't hold back a smile, he was frantic to get some one-on-one time with the kitten, and the hour finally came.

As the massive door slammed shut behind him, Jake saw his beloved at the sink, and his legs didn't hesitate and carried him forward. Coming so close that the sweet smell of peppermint could be sensed, the man, mindful of his purpose, spoke:

"Honey, can you spare me a moment? I'm sorry there was a misunderstanding. It's my fault..."

Kitten turned around, his eyes first showing tenderness, which with each passing second became more and more like wild, unconcealed lust. Jake swallowed, the urge to put the baby on that expensive marble sink and enter him passionately and hard was searingly intolerable, but it took a long time for his brain to adjust to the conversation, so he continued to press on:

"Can we...talk now?"

But the little devil, grabbing some item from the basket, called him into the stall.

"I know what you want! No! Talk first!" - The inner voice did not relent.

"Are you coming, Hia?" - the sweet voice and the two eager oceans were trying their best to crack Jake's decision to talk first, and they were succeeding. The sturdy walnut seemed to be covered in a web of cracks in the blink of an eye, and the man followed his baby.

Once in the stall, a dangerous distance from the desired body, Jake felt arousal spreading through him at an incredible rate:

"You can't do that! What are you doing, kitten? It's not like I'll be able to stop! What about...?" - The thought process was interrupted when neat fingers slid across his chest and Hope began kissing his face, then pulled him into a scaldingly passionate kiss.

The little devil was determined, and Jake, struggling a little, let him command the parade, waiting for the right moment to speak up. The kid was insanely sexy in every way, in his body curves, his actions, and his sweet moans. Jake kept his eyes on him, kept his lips on his smooth skin, and kept breathing in that incomparable scent. He was gentle with his lover, trying to bring him as little pain as possible.

Finally, the moment the man had been waiting for came - when he inserted his full length piston into the desired hole, pushing the guy into the wall, the kitten became completely defenseless. Jake stopped. Hope begged for more, but he was adamant, even though he was also insanely eager to penetrate the warm, tender and tight channel again and again.

"Now you won't escape...mmmmm...listen..." - he said quietly, holding back the wild desire to possess, and then breathing more air into his lungs, he said a little louder and clearer: "In my heart, YOU, only YOU, kitten, and no one else! I love you! I only want you! I look only at you! And all my thoughts are about you alone!"

The boy turned his head and pulled Jake's head against him, wrapping his arms around the back of his neck and merging with him in a kiss.

"You really got it all figured out, baby? I'm so glad! I'm insanely happy!" - on a wave of joyful thoughts, the man no longer held back, bringing this brief, yet vivid and crazy act of lovemaking to its logical conclusion for both of them.

A powerful, dazzling orgasm overtook both of them. Following the kitten squeezing his piston with hшы anus, Jake shouted, "Arrgh...kitten...very... tight...Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh," sliding Hope's neat leg down and withdrawing the eruption-ready piston from his ass.

They stood there for a while, trying to regain their breath. Jake rested his head against the boy's wet back; he was filled with happiness and joy that the kitten understood and accepted him in every way.

But, suddenly...

"I... gotta go," the guy whispered, moving away from the wall.

Jake held his arms, bent at the elbows, apart. His cum dripped from his right palm onto the floor, while his lover's white love fluid dripped from his left. It must have looked funny from the outside, because Hope cheerfully showed his white teeth.

"Can you hand me the toilet paper, sweetheart?" - Jake asked, nodding at the roll hanging next to Hope.

"Nah, I'm in a hurry," the imp replied playfully and began pulling on his clothes.

"Ah, so that's what you're going to do to your Lion? You know I'll pay it back! Just let me get to you one more time! Maybe it'll happen tonight?"

Jake asked, looking hopefully into the boy's eyes:

"Can we talk today? I'll wait for you."

"No, it's P'Panit's birthday today. We're having a late family dinner," the boy replied monotonously but gently.

"We need to talk, tiger cub. I want to explain everything... When?" - Jake waited for an answer.

"When the snake grows horns, the turtle grows whiskers, and the water lizard grows a mane," Hope replied with a giggle as he exited the stall.

"But...what about it? Are we doing okay? Or...?" - The man didn't realize what was going on.

"Was this a goodbye sex? No, it can't be!" - Jake panicked, but suddenly the satisfied face of the kitten reappeared in the doorway:

"Tomorrow. At lunchtime. In the park by the school."

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! You're my little devil! This is gonna be so much fun! Oh, Jake, I think you're in for a real treat. But why does it feel so good? Oh! I love you so much, my kitten! Especially when you let out your claws!" - Jake continued to stand naked in the stall for a long time, leaning against the wall where his baby had been moaning just a short time ago, their cum in his hands and different kinds of smiles on his lips, from blissful and soft to delighted and carnivorous.

***

Monday. September 6.

Jake's morning started with a text message from Troy:

<Troy: "Son has been smiling enigmatically since yesterday. You guys managed to have a conversation after all, am I understanding correctly?">.

The man, barely able to open his eyes, stretched out a happy smile:

"Smiling? Mmmm... well of course he's happy, because we're..."

Jake was happy at the same time, remembering last night's passionate performance, but on the other hand he was worried, because the conversation with the kitten was still to come, and there was no certainty of a good outcome.

He had to answer, and Jake shook his head and moved to the edge of the bed, thinking frantically:

"Ooh, well, how do I tell him? I'm afraid I'll have to put my other eye out if he finds out the truth."

After thinking a bit more, he wrote a reply:

<Jake: "We got on the truce path yesterday, but had to postpone some of the conversation for later as Hope was in a hurry. We will definitely continue what we started and resolve the situation at lunch today. Khun Troy, thanks for your support!"

"I think that came out pretty well," Jake said to himself and pressed the Send button. A few seconds later a reply came back:

<Troy: "Don't tell me you didn't keep your devil dick in your pants again, Jake!">

While the man on the bed was in shock at his father-in-law's insight, nervously tapping his cell phone on his forehead, thinking of a response, another message came in:

<Troy: "Judging by my son's reaction, you definitely did it, Jake! Don't you even dare to deny it! If your little buddy messes up again, you'll be picking up the pieces of your dick in the city sewer!">

Jake felt like a five-year-old kid who'd done something wrong. The words "It's all Hope's fault!" might have saved his skin, but his love for the little devil and his life principles wouldn't let him do that, so the only thing left to do was admit he'd made a mistake:

<Jake: "I apologize, Khun Troy! This is my fault. I will try to make it right. I hope for your understanding.">

After a moment of worry, the cell phone vibrated again:

<Troy: "It's okay, P! When Hope is happy, we're happy too! That means you're doing everything right! Keep up the good work! We have faith in you! Panit">.

Jake smiled and hugged his phone gratefully, the way he would hug this sunny kid if he were around right now. Then sat up abruptly on the bed.

"No. This guy can't even be touched with a finger. The manhood will definitely get hurt," he spoke his thoughts aloud and laughed heartily.

***

He did not go to school, but flew on the wings of love, accompanying his flight with chaotic thoughts:

"How can I make it to lunch? I can't wait to meet the kitten!

Jake, pull yourself together! You still have classes!

I wonder if he's an angel today or if he'll show his devil backside again.

Also, we have practice today. Mmm-hmm, and for the sweet stuff, two hours alone at the club. No! I hate that place!"

Jake stopped at that last thought and decided to check with Norman about some details, right now. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed the manager of the Red Dragon. After a huge number of beeps he was answered by a sleepy voice:

📞 "Khun Jake, it's not even nine o'clock yet. What's the urgency this early?" "Who is it?" - Another male voice was heard in the background. "Go back to sleep, it's a client, on business," Norman replied to the caller.

📞 "Excuse me, Khun Norman... I wanted to clarify something with you..."

📞 "Ooooh, I'm listening attentively."

📞 "Is it possible to spend paid hours with a Club employee outside of the Club?"

📞 "Yes. Just call ahead and let me know. Is that all?"

📞 "Yes, thank you! Taking Red back to my place today. Thank you so much!"

Norman hanged up, and Jake jumped joyfully, and then a few more times in response to every cheerful thought that visited his head:

"Does that mean...does that mean we can see each other at my house!!!?!?!?! Alone, no wire, no time limit? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! We can even sleep together! The little tired kitten will sleep in my arms, and when I wake up, I'll see his face! We'll brush our teeth together and... shower together. Aaaaaaaaaaah!!! How can I not die of happiness?"

***

As soon as the bell rang after fourth class, Jake said goodbye to M6-4 and walked briskly toward the building's exit.

As he walked down the long first-floor hallway, he saw his kitten hurriedly skipping over the last two steps of the staircase and almost running in the same direction as him.

Inhale and exhale

The man breathed deeply and even shook his shoulders slightly, tuning into the conversation. He felt fear again, the kind of fear that made his knees shake, even though he realized Hope was ready to accept him.

As he stepped outside the glass doors, he saw his little boy walking toward the park, circling the students, and followed him.

As Jake kept his gaze on Hope, he noticed a man in a black tracksuit and a black cap pulled halfway down his face following him down the same path. An uneasiness appeared in his chest from nowhere, and he tried to quicken his step.

"Khun'Jake, dear! It's so good to have met you!" - the school principal suddenly appeared in the way, blocking the view of the path his little boy had just traveled and disappearing behind the trees.

"Greetings, Khun Pattanapong," Jake extended his hand, showing no upset at this untimely encounter. Smiling, he shook the older man's hand firmly.

"I'd like to discuss the upcoming games with you. Let's go to my office, if you're not too busy," the head of school put one hand on his shoulder and pointed toward the porch with the other.

Jake hesitated for only a second, and took one step with the principal, but suddenly the anxiety inside him swelled with more force, pushing his heart into a frantic rhythmic beat, his insides twisted into a knot, and his mind was racing with, "I have to go get the kitten!"

"I apologize, Khun... I have an urgent matter that I unfortunately can't postpone. I'll be sure to stop visit you after the class," Jake respectfully declined, directing his gaze back to the path.

"Oh, well, that's a shame. I just had a spare moment... Okay. See you later!" - The Principal waved his hand and walked lightly toward the entrance, glancing around the grounds and answering the students' greetings in a friendly manner.

Jake, on the other hand, strode toward the verdant student recreation area. The path Hope took was narrow. The man walked briskly along it, peering through the openings between the trees and searching for his baby:

"Where are you hiding?"

Suddenly he heard an embittered, hoarse voice:

"Since I can't put down the creep who did this to me, I'll take his sweet boy's life! Bitch, let him choke on that shit!"

"Anuman! Calm down, let's talk!" - Shouted back a native voice.

Jake ran in terror toward the sound, and behind the next bush he saw a terrible picture: his precious kitten lying on the ground, the dark-clothed man hovering over it and... with both hands and his whole body pressing on the knife, the point of which the defensive boy was clutching with his palms. Bright red streams of blood flowed down the kitten's arms stretched upwards.

It was as if it were happening in slow motion. Jake lunged forward with all his might to protect his baby, while his attacker jerked the knife out of his clutching hands and brought it up again for another attack....

The man leaned over his lover, looking into his terror-filled blue eyes:

"I'm here. It's all right," Jake said quietly, piercing pain traveled down his back and left shoulder.

Lion clutched at his attacker's arm with his right hand, which held the hilt of the knife stuck in his shoulder, and clenched it tightly so that the asshole couldn't do anything else.

His eyes blurred slightly, but he saw his brave tiger cub leap to his feet, followed by the sounds of blows.

"Honey... I'll be right there... I'll get help! Be conscious, please!" - Jake felt the warmth of Hope's embrace and heard his ringing voice, full of anxiety and fear, about to break down to sobs.

The man wanted to hug and comfort his kitten. Despite the heat and the hellish pain in his upper body, he pulled the baby to him with his right arm and wrapped it around his waist.

"The main thing is you're safe..." - Jake whispered in the boy's ear, who was already sobbing on his right shoulder.

"I love you, kitten! We're definitely going to be okay!" - The words rang in his head, but he didn't have the strength to say them out loud.