Palm sat quietly in his airplane seat, his heart heavy with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. The hum of the engines grew louder as the plane began to take off, and he leaned back, closing his eyes. His thoughts drifted to his long-lost brother, Pond, the person he had spent years searching for without any luck.

"Where are you, Phi?"_ Palm whispered to himself, his voice barely audible above the sound of the plane’s ascent. "I’ll find you. No matter what... I’m coming."

The journey felt long, but his determination kept his nerves at bay. He was finally on his way to Bangkok, a city vastly different from his quiet life in Chiang Mai. He hoped that in the sprawling urban landscape, he would finally find the answers that had eluded him for so long.

When the plane touched down in Bangkok, the city’s vibrant energy hit Palm the moment he stepped off the flight. The hustle and bustle of the airport seemed a world away from the peaceful, slow-paced village he’d come from. After retrieving his luggage, he made his way outside, scanning the busy street for a taxi.

A taxi pulled up in front of him, and the driver, a middle-aged man with a friendly smile, got out to help load Palm’s luggage into the trunk. Once everything was set, Palm slid into the back seat, and the driver returned to his seat, starting the engine.

The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror, his curiosity clear. “Hey, nong, are you new to Bangkok?”

Palm nodded. “Yeah, it’s my first time here.”

The driver’s smile widened. “What’s your name?”

“Palm,” he replied, his voice steady despite the nervous excitement bubbling inside him.

“Ah, Palm. Nice name,” the driver said, his tone warm and welcoming. “So, what brings you to the big city?”

Palm hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. “I’m here to find my brother.”

The driver’s eyebrow arched slightly in surprise as he glanced back at Palm. “Your brother? Why are you looking for him? You don’t know where he lives?”

Palm sighed, the weight of his mission pressing down on him. “No... he ran away when we were kids. My family searched for him everywhere but never found him. I’ve finally heard he’s here in Bangkok. My mom’s been worried sick, so she sent me to find him.”

The driver’s expression softened at Palm’s words. “Ah, I see. Well, don’t worry, nong, you’ll find him soon enough. If you need help, just let me know, okay?”

Palm managed a small smile. “Thanks, I appreciate that.”

As the taxi wound its way through the chaotic streets of Bangkok, Palm stared out the window, taking in the unfamiliar sights. The city was alive with motion—bright lights, busy markets, and the constant sound of car horns. Everything felt overwhelming compared to the quiet life he was used to in Chiang Mai.

After a few moments of silence, the driver spoke again, glancing at Palm through the mirror. “So, where am I dropping you off?”

Palm reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, crumpled piece of paper. He handed it to the driver, who glanced at it briefly before his face paled, his eyes widening in shock.

“What?” the driver stammered. “This place?”

Palm frowned, unsure of what had caused the man’s sudden reaction. “Yes. Why? Is there something wrong with it?”

The driver’s gaze flicked between Palm and the road, his earlier warmth replaced with an air of discomfort. “You… you’re going there? Nong, you seem like a good kid. Innocent. Why are you going to that part of town?”

Confusion settled over Palm. “What do you mean? It’s just an address.”

The driver shook his head, gripping the steering wheel tightly. “That’s not just any address, kid. That’s the kind of place people like you shouldn’t go. It’s dangerous. Why would your brother be in a place like that?”

Palm’s nervousness began to grow. “I don’t know. I just need to find him. What’s wrong with that place?”

For a moment, the driver said nothing, the tension in the car thickening with each passing second. Palm could sense the unease radiating from him, but he still didn’t understand the reason behind it. All he had was a name and an address, but somehow, this place seemed to hold a deeper, darker significance than he had anticipated.

The taxi weaved through the busy streets of Bangkok, its driver stealing glances at Palm every few minutes, his curiosity finally breaking through the silence.

“Are you sure your brother would be in a place like that?” the driver asked cautiously. “What’s his name, anyway?”

Palm, still unsure of why the driver seemed uneasy, calmly replied, “His name is Pond Naravit. The information I have says he’ll be at that address.”

Without warning, the driver slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a screeching halt. Palm lurched forward, caught off guard by the sudden stop.

“Phi! What happened?” he asked, his heart racing as he glanced at the driver, who had gone pale. The driver slowly turned in his seat, eyes wide with shock, his voice barely more than a whisper.

“Did you just say… Pond Naravit?”

Palm, still confused, nodded. “Yeah, my brother’s name is Pond Naravit. Why?”

The driver’s hands tightened on the steering wheel as panic began to creep into his voice. “Pond Naravit? Your brother? Oh my god… Do you have any idea who your brother is?! He’s the most feared mafia leader in all of Bangkok. The leader of the Black Shadows. Just hearing his name makes people tremble.”

Palm’s breath caught in his throat, the driver’s words hitting him like a punch to the gut. His brother—his mischievous, loving brother—was a mafia leader? It didn’t make sense.

“No… there must be some mistake,” Palm muttered, his voice barely audible. “My brother can’t be… a mafia leader?”

The driver let out a nervous laugh, shaking his head. “Mistake? You think I’d make a mistake about that name? Pond Naravit is someone nobody speaks about openly. And you’re telling me he’s your brother?”

Palm’s mind raced, trying to process what he was hearing. The brother he’d come to find was feared by everyone?

The driver gestured toward the stickers covering the inside of his car. “See these? Do you think I put them here for fun? They’re because of your brother’s antics. While chasing someone, his men have shot through this car, and  wrecked this car more times than I can count. I barely survived driving through some of his territory.”

The driver’s voice was trembling now, his fear evident as he stared at Palm. “You can’t go there. I won’t take you. It’s too dangerous. I’m not risking my life for this.”

But Palm was determined. This was his brother, his flesh and blood. How could he turn back now after coming so far? “Please, Phi,” Palm pleaded, his voice steady but laced with desperation. “Just drop me close by. You don’t need to take me all the way inside. I’ll walk the rest of the way.”

The driver was silent, his face reflecting an internal battle between his fear and the sympathy he felt for Palm. The car hummed as it idled on the street, the city bustling around them, but inside the vehicle, the tension was thick and oppressive.

Palm leaned forward, his eyes earnest and unwavering. “I have to find him. My family’s been searching for years. If he’s really there, I need to see for myself. I’m not asking you to go in. Just take me close, please. I’ll do the rest.”

The driver sighed deeply, rubbing a hand over his face as if trying to wipe away the anxiety. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he nodded. “Alright, alright,” he muttered. “But I’m only dropping you near the street. I’m not staying a second longer than I have to.”

“Thank you, Phi,” Palm said gratefully, leaning back in his seat as relief washed over him.

The drive continued in silence, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken fears. As they approached the area, the streets grew quieter, the bustling city life fading into the background as they neared what felt like a different world. Palm could feel the shift, the air itself seeming thicker with tension.

The driver pulled up to a dark, deserted street, the surrounding area almost eerie in its stillness. He kept the engine running, his eyes darting nervously around.

“This is as far as I go,” the driver said quickly, his voice tight with fear. “Get out. I won’t stay here any longer.”

Palm nodded, understanding the driver’s panic. He grabbed his bag and stepped out of the car. Before he could say another word, the driver sped off, the car disappearing down the street as fast as it could go.

Palm stood alone, the quiet settling in around him. The estate was close now, though he couldn’t see it from where he stood. He took a deep breath, his heart racing, and began walking toward the unknown.

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