"Come on in, friends. Though it’s not as grand as Metthanun, my house should be enough to support your ass, Ai Khun-chai."
"Can you stop fucking with me for just a minute?"
"Can’t, man. Annoying you is my hobby, but watching out for Kon Hin is my main job."
As the sky was dyed with the evening light, turning a vivid orange, two cars followed each other into the large house in the famous residential area. Tul might have been in a better mood if it weren’t for his close friend who had been nipping at him since morning. Even when he walked into the house, that friend still spoke words that nearly made him scowl.
It was clearly annoying him. Why wouldn’t it?
Tul may have been seen as someone with many friends, but there were only a few people he allowed to get closer, beyond the walls. One of them was Nakrob. Even though Nakrob had viewed him as a competitor in academics since the first year, he wasn’t a pretender. He wasn’t a two-faced person seeking future benefits by getting close.
Ai Rob was the only one who never praised Tul’s family. On the contrary, he made fun of them every chance he got. He was also the same person who went after those who gossiped about Tul behind his back. Ai Rob was someone who would speak his mind openly, and that was why Tul let him come closer, even if there were things that irritated him.
Like the matter of Kon Hin.
"What is it that you're observing?" Tul asked.
The mixed-heritage young man clearly saw the twitching hand of his close companion. Kon Hin must have been trying his best to avoid raising his hand to cover his throat, but his mouth asked as though it were an amusing matter, despite the fact that it was clear he was tightening his brow in concentration.
"Huh? You're his Chao-nai, how could you not know?"
"It happens that I am not your brain. I don’t know what you’re thinking. Oh, and by the way, don’t worry. Next exam, I’ll lose to myself."
"Ugh, you say this, so come on, punch me already. I live by the motto: I don't hit anyone first, but if anyone starts trouble, I’ll hit them back double." The large man rolled his eyes towards the sky, wanting to provoke Ai Tul fully, but could not deny that he had lost.
Yeah, I’ve never been able to beat him!
"So, what’s this about observing, Kon Hin... Are you sick, Kon Hin?"
"I’m fine, sir," Kon Hin replied quickly, prompting the outsider to shake his head and mutter.
"Even if Kon Hin were sick, if you asked him, he'd always say, 'I’m fine, sir.' Ai Tul, and you don't have to narrow your eyes at me as if I'm trying to steal your close friend. When I say I’m observing, I’m actually more concerned about Kon Hin, because he’s the type who doesn’t like to talk, right, Kon Hin?" Nakrob locked eyes with the golden-brown ones without fear, not caring that Tul was about to speak up to deny any animosity. He turned to the other friend.
"I’ve known you guys for years. How would I not know there are things you’re hiding from me?"
"Well, I don’t have anything to say."
Nakrob raised both hands in a gesture of surrender, though his eyes said... See? Where did I go wrong?
This time, Tul stared at Nakrob's face intently, but Nakrob raised an eyebrow and looked at Kon Hin with pressure. As for Kon Hin, he glanced at his Chao-nai's face with discomfort.
The atmosphere fell silent for a brief moment, creating a tense feeling.
"Woof... woof, woof!"
"Is that your dog, or is it you, Nakrob?"
Fortunately, the sound of a dog barking interrupted, and Kon Hin seized the opportunity to change the subject immediately, hoping to lighten the mood. But...
"Your dog barks just like its owner."
Whoosh!
As soon as Tul finished speaking, Nakrob turned to stare at him, not backing down. While Nakrob could feel the anger, the other just gave a faint smile, as if he hadn't insulted anyone.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're an expert at creating an image?" Nakrob asked irritably.
"As far as I remember, no one has."
Because the only person who knows almost stopped breathing in bed.
Tul smirked cynically before quickly wiping the expression away and putting on a mischievous look as he teased his friend, while Nakrob nodded several times before rolling his eyes.
The look Nakrob gave Tul seemed to say that if anyone else knew he was creating an image, it would probably be Nakrob.
"I guess I've let you get too close to me, huh?"
"Or are you saying that I'm creating an image?"
Two pairs of eyes stare at each other in silence, and Nakrob is the one who finally relents, stepping back.
"Hey, old man, have you eaten yet? Sounds like no one’s feeding you." Nakrob knows he’s crossed a line because the young man abruptly changes the subject, leading the way to the back of the house where a pen is set up for the puppies. The stone secretly sighs in relief.
"Worried about it, huh?" But he can’t help but lower his head when the voice following behind whispers softly.
"It’s my friend."
"Remember your words... Nakrob, what breed are you raising anyway?" Tul presses, walking ahead to call out to the homeowner.
Meanwhile, Nakrob turns to stand in front of the cage, grinning widely.
"Guess."
"With a face like yours, it’s probably... a Shih Tzu." Tul teases back.
"Damn, then with a face like yours, you must be raising a Poodle." Nakrob bares his teeth but steps aside to reveal the puppy.
"Wrong. It’s a mixed breed."
Nakrob’s puppy is impossible to identify by breed. It looks like any ordinary street dog, except one of its legs is amputated, cut short from the middle of its body. Its mangy appearance makes it hard to find any cuteness in it. Meanwhile, its owner cradles it in his arms, explaining its background.
"My little brother told me this pup’s mother was digging through trash near his friend’s house. The people there beat her up, not caring that she had puppies. When they tried to take her puppies, she turned and bit one of them. The guy who got bitten was so angry, he shot her dead. This little one got hit with a wooden plank and broke its leg. When my brother found it, it was barely alive. But he couldn’t take care of it himself because he was afraid the people there would hurt it, so our family took it in."
"Grrr!!"
The three-month-old puppy, lying calmly in Nakrob’s arms, suddenly bared its teeth as a stranger stepped into its striking distance.
Nakrob quickly explains, "This one’s wary of people. It took a week for it to get used to me."
"Hey, Tul!"
"Woof woof woof! Grrrr!"
At that moment, the young master, who you’d never expect to let his hands get dirty with mange, steps forward and grabs the little one from Nakrob’s arms. The owner shouts, making a move to snatch it back, worried his friend might get bitten. But Tul pays no attention. His sharp eyes lock onto the puppy’s fearful gaze, and he utters a single sentence.
"It’s okay."
Thud.
That one word makes the puppy, which had opened its mouth to bite his wrist, freeze.
"It won’t hurt me because I don’t intend to hurt it... Isn’t it strange, Nakrob? Even a dog loves its pups. How can some mothers kick their own children to the curb? Sometimes I just don’t understand. Right, little one?" Tul says, pulling the pitiful puppy closer to his chest. It stares for a moment before... nuzzling its face against Tul’s chest.
Both listeners fell silent—an even deeper silence than when Tul had questioned the puppy.
"If you were human, would you hunt down the ones who hurt you?" Tul’s smile is chilling, his dark eyes as heavy as storm clouds before a downpour.
"Woof! Woof!"
No one knows what the little mutt’s answer truly is, but Tul laughs and says simply,
"Good thing you were born a dog. Because humans… they’re far worse." His voice darkens, his grip on the puppy tightening just enough for the other two to notice the unspoken loss he carries—one he refuses to let the outside world see.
Nakrob, sensing the need to change the mood, quickly spoke up.
"You sure speak fluent dog, Tul."
Tul’s response was a soft laugh, but… it was chilling.
"Yeah, talking to a dog is easier than talking to people. But I’m not going to be a dog for you to mock, Ai Rob, because dogs… do things that people can’t."
With that, his sharp eyes briefly flicked over, his gaze freezing as a subtle warning before turning to look at his close friend, who could only stay silent. Tul then handed the puppy to him.
"Want to hold it, Ai Kon Hin?"
"Yes." The listener immediately responded, and Nakrob was surprised when the suspicious puppy lay still in Hin's arms, as though it could sense that these two wouldn’t harm it. But something inside Nakrob told him… there was something else hurting them.
At least, he saw the look in Ai Kon Hin’s eyes as he gazed at Ai Tul... full of pity, understanding, and sympathy. He couldn’t help but wonder… what their relationship really was.
While Tul went to the bathroom, Nakrob, who was sitting on the sofa, casually asked the person sitting on the floor beside him with the puppy in his lap, his voice growing serious and his eyes hardening.
"You know, right, that I'm your friend?"
"You know, right, that if you’re in trouble, you can tell me?"
Silence.
"And you know, right, that if you're being harmed..."
"I'm not being harmed." Hin replied.
Nakrob smiled... but it was a smile that didn’t believe the words.
"It's hot, don’t you think?" Then, he quickly changed the subject, a smile lingering as he continued.
"So why don’t you turn on the AC?"
"It’s a waste of electricity," the homeowner replied with a chuckle, fanning his student shirt. But his eyes never left his close friend, especially noticing the beads of sweat trickling down his forehead before disappearing into the stiff collar of his shirt, which was buttoned all the way up.
It was blistering hot, but Ai Kon Hin still hadn’t unbuttoned his shirt.
"Then stop complaining," Ai Kon Hin said while scratching his belly, making the puppy fidget.
"Then aren’t you hot?"
"Well... no," Ai Kon Hin glanced over suspiciously, as if preparing to move away.
"But your collar is soaking with sweat," the one sitting higher said, grabbing the collar before Ai Kon Hin could react, causing him to stiffen slightly. Then he quickly laughed to cover it up.
"But I’m not hot."
"Come on, this isn’t the National Security Council where you have to dress up in full regalia. Take off your tie, it’s making me feel hot just looking at it," Nakrob lightly tugged at the collar, pretending to adjust it, but Ai Kon Hin clenched the front of his shirt tightly as well.
"Well, I’m not hot. I’m just too lazy to take it off. I’ll probably forget it at your place anyway," Ai Kon Hin replied, but didn’t look up to meet his friend’s eyes. He only looked into the puppy’s eyes, his other hand scratching its ear.
Scratching its head, making the puppy groan happily.
Nakrob didn’t retract his hand. He simply changed it to a light pat on the shoulder and asked gently,
"Lazy to take it off... or... can’t take it off?"
Ai Kon Hin didn’t answer the question. He just stayed silent, sensing his friend leaning in closer, the tip of his finger brushing under his ear. Then the whisper almost took his breath away.
"I saw it, Ai Kon Hin."
Gasp!
At the conclusion of Nakrob's words, the listener, cradling the puppy, immediately shot to his feet. His eyes clearly showed shock, and his face turned pale in an instant. However, he tried his best to appear normal as he turned to stare at his friend and replied quickly,
"Don't be ridiculous. What could you possibly have seen?"
The homeowner merely shrugged, offering a faint smile, and replied nonchalantly,
"Exactly. What did I see? That you're dressed overly proper? That you seem suspicious enough to kill? That there's something strange on your neck? Or perhaps that Ai'Tul... no, you two..." Nakrob fell silent for a moment—a moment that felt interminable to the listener—before continuing with a displeased smile,
"…are hiding something. What should I have seen, Ai'Hin?"
Pathapee murmured softly in response,
"You're angry at me, aren't you?"
"What do you think?"
Yes, Nakrob was angry. The more his friends acted secretive, the angrier he became. He considered them his friends... close friends... yet they kept hiding things. Meanwhile, he had to constantly scrutinize their behavior—days when Ai'Tul smiled more than usual, days when Ai'Hin seemed drained but forced himself to endure it until his face turned deathly pale. It definitely wasn’t from household chores, as they claimed!
Kon Hin didn’t know how to respond. He simply shook his head slowly.
"Should I tell you what you ought to have seen?"
Swish.
The person who had gone to the bathroom now stood at the door frame, his sharp features adorned with a faint smile. His deep voice carried an air of nonchalance, contrasting with the sharp gleam in his eyes that fixed unwaveringly on his large-bodied friend. Then, he walked directly toward his close companion.
"Hand it over."
Tul extended a hand, taking the puppy from Hin and cradling it himself. Then, he walked over to the one still seated on the sofa and passed the puppy to him.
Nakrob took the tiny creature into his arms, but his eyes never left Tul.
"What should I have seen?"
Tul's smile widened, and he responded in a lively tone,
"You shouldn't have seen anything."
"If you want to stay our friend, it's better not to see anything. I’m warning you out of kindness," Tul added before stepping back to his close companion. Then, he reached out and clasped his arm.
"It's getting late. We should head back. Thanks for introducing us to your dog."
"Wait, Ai'Tul!"
As the two were about to leave, Nakrob called out after them. The tall figure set the puppy down and followed them, narrowing his eyes as he stared intently at the two. His gaze dropped momentarily to the hand gripping Kon Hin's arm tightly. If he wasn’t imagining it... Ai'Tul's grip was firm.
"What exactly is going on between you two?"
The question, fueled by his growing suspicion, hung in the air. But the mixed-heritage man did not respond. He simply pulled his close companion along without a word.
"If you don’t answer, I’ll find the answer my way!”
This time, the man who had never known defeat shouted after them, prompting Tul to turn back once more, his eyes blazing with intensity—a gaze that even Kon Hin feared in his heart.
Please stop, Ai'Rob. Whatever I’m going through, I’m content with what I’ve chosen.
He wanted to say that, but as long as the large hand gripped him tightly, silently telling him he didn’t need to speak, Kon Hin could only remain silent. He watched as his Chao-nai and his dear friend locked eyes.
Then Tul spoke in a stern voice, "It’s something that no matter how hard you try, you’ll never understand. Sometimes, giving up is the best choice, Ai'Rob.”
“Ai'Tul! Ai'Hin is my friend too!”
“In case you’ve forgotten, he’s my person,” Tul retorted, keeping his anger in check behind an impassive face. He pulled his close companion toward the car, though his other hand gripped so tightly it turned white at the knuckles.
Nakrob continued to shout, his words pressing on Tul’s frayed patience.
“In case you’ve forgotten, Ai'Tul, Ai'Hin is a person! He has feelings! You can’t order him around like a pet!”
Before Tul could get into the car, he turned to look at the house’s owner.
“Earlier, you called me a dog, didn’t you? Fine, I’m a dog.”
Nakrob narrowed his eyes at the man, unsure of his intentions, while Tul spoke with a voice that rang out clearly:
“And if anyone messes with what’s mine...I’m ready to bite and sink my teeth in.”
A warning not to cross the line.
Bang!
Then, Khun-chai of the Metthanun family stepped into the car, slamming the door shut, leaving the homeowner to curse irritably. He had learned nothing more than before, despite being certain that the marks on the neck weren’t from leaves—they definitely weren’t—but he had no chance to see them clearly or have anyone explain what had actually happened.
"Someone like you is just a possessive dog, Ai Tul."
No matter what their relationship was, Ai Tul was far more possessive of Ai Hin than just a Chao-nai would be toward a subordinate.
The needle on the Japanese car's speedometer climbed steadily, every second faster than the last, until the passenger beside the driver dared not speak a word. Kon Hin simply watched his Chao-nai’s hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, as though they might crush it to dust. Kon Hin knew that the one his Chao-nai wanted to destroy wasn’t anyone else... but their own close friend.
Even so, he also knew this: his Chao-nai wanted to, but he wouldn’t.
Screech!
Suddenly, the sleek car screeched to a halt with a deafening sound, lurching forward before coming to a stop by a quiet roadside. The driver bowed his head, forehead resting on the steering wheel, inhaling deeply.
"Khun Tul..."
“What did you talk to him about?” Tul interjected with a deep strong voice.
"There’s nothing, sir."
"How can there be nothing!" Suddenly, the man, who seemed to have calmed himself, shouted, snapping his head back toward him. His beautiful eyes, now reflecting the evening light and appearing golden, gleamed with a terrifying intensity. His large hand shot out, gripping Pathapee’s arm tightly, squeezing it until his face twisted in pain.
Yes, his Chao-nai wouldn’t take it out on Rob. But his Chao-nai would take it out on him instead.
"There really is nothing, sir," he replied. The thing to do when Khun Tul was angry was to remain as calm as possible.
Bang!
Kon Hin remained still as the large hand struck the window behind him. He prayed it wouldn’t shatter. Lowering his head slightly, he signaled submission, which made the other person’s fury subside somewhat. The hand gripping his arm shifted to his tie knot instead.
Ffft.
The tie, which had been secured around his neck all day, was yanked off in one swift motion. Then, Tul grabbed his collar forcefully, tearing the top button from its hole, exposing the dark skin of his neck, which showed no less intensity. On the contrary, its hue seemed even more severe. His deep voice became heavier.
"Why don’t you tell him what I’ve done to you?"
"You haven’t done anything to me, Khun Tul," Kon Hin answered as he had before, trying not to flinch even as fingers brushed over the bruised mark.
"Go on, tell him. He’s your friend, isn’t he? He’s so important to you, isn’t he?" Tul let out a dry laugh, fully aware that his close subordinate gave Rob more significance than any other friend.
At the very least, Rob was the one person he addressed casually with "you" and "I," while being overly formal with everyone else, adhering strictly to their class distinctions.
"He’s my friend, sir."
“And it seems that you’ve been particularly close to him lately,” the eldest son of the Metthanun family continued his questioning. His eyes gleamed even brighter, unwaveringly fixed on his close subordinate. Kon Hin slowly shook his head, then raised his gaze to meet those beautiful eyes—eyes he had found captivating from the first time he saw them.
If they weren’t burning with anger, these eyes would undoubtedly be more beautiful than anyone’s.
“Yes, it’s special...” Kon Hin finally admitted, which only made the listener’s stare more intense. But before Tul could say anything, his close subordinate continued.
“But if Khun Tul orders me to stop associating with him, I will stop.”
Thud!
The mixed-heritage man froze, staring into the deep black eyes that always looked straight at him. Always loyal to him. To the point it made him feel nauseous.
It wasn’t pity for Kon Hin, but a churning unease in his stomach that surfaced every time he saw that gaze.
It was a feeling somewhere between wanting to reach out and wanting to push it away. And this time, Tul chose to push it away, as he always had.
“What if I order you right now?”
“I’ll call him and end it immediately.”
Tul fell silent, running a hand through his hair. His anger vanished as if it had never been there, leaving only his sharp eyes still locked on Kon Hin. Then he shook his head.
“No need. Stay close to him; he’s still useful.” The eldest son said it in a way that made the listener bow his head.
Kon Hin wasn’t close to Nakrob because of usefulness but because of friendship—something the speaker obviously knew all too well.
“You must be displeased when I call Ai Nakrob ‘useful,’ right?” Tul sneered.
"I have no right to be displeased, sir."
"You do, Ai Hin. You have the right to be displeased with me," the mixed-heritage man immediately countered, reaching out to grip the other man’s neck. The one who had nearly died once before flinched slightly, his eyes flickering with momentary fear. Yet Tul did not squeeze; he simply held it and continued speaking.
"You could take this mark and tell anyone—my father, my stepmother, or even your mother—and have me jailed on an attempted murder charge. But you won’t..."
"I would never do that!" Before his Chao-nai could finish, Kon Hin interjected in a firm voice, his hands instinctively grabbing Tul’s wrist as he reinforced his words.
"I would never hurt you."
He would never do such a thing.
The seriousness in his tone, the resolute look in his eyes—everything about him declared that no matter how much others might harm this man, Kon Hin would never be counted among them.
"Why?" Tul asked, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as if he already knew the answer.
"Because I belong to you, Khun Tul."
And that was the answer.
It made the listener release his hold on the other’s neck and reply in a gentler voice.
"Then say it like that. Tell Ai Nakrob not to overstep with me. Let him know that it’s you who willingly belongs to me."
The mixed-heritage man concluded, his eyes fixed on the frightening bruise. His fingers moved to the collar of Kon Hin’s shirt, pulling it up to cover the mark again. He handed him the necktie by lightly shoving it against his chest.
"Yes, Khun Tul."
Kon Hin responded, adjusting his collar to cover the bruise and the missing button that had flown off somewhere in the car. Then, he repeated firmly once more.
"I will never tell Ai Nakrob or anyone else, sir."
"Good."
That answer was enough to make the irritated man turn back and drive the car again, though not as abruptly as before, as if Kon Hin’s words had eased his mood. Yet Nakrob’s earlier words still echoed in his mind.
The dog guarding the bone.
Ai Nakrob, I don’t need to guard it, because my bone has never willingly left my mouth. Tul felt confident in the loyalty of the man who had stood by his side for over a decade. Why would he doubt him further?
Reaching over, Tul placed his hand on Kon Hin’s head. He felt the flinch beneath his palm but did not withdraw his hand. Instead, he tousled the soft, thick hair playfully and spoke in a surprisingly gentle tone.
"Good work deserves a reward, doesn’t it? Come to my room tonight—I’ll have a reward for you."
And Kon Hin could only reply: "Yes, sir."
Even though, at times, the line between a reward and a punishment could be razor-thin.
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