Content Warning: This work is intended for mature (NC17) audiences. If you are younger, please kindly leave this site.
~~~
“Top!” Payu roared.
The moment Payu realized who Rain was with, he bellowed loudly, his eyes blazing as if someone had set them on fire. He was so furious he wanted to rush out and kill Top with his own hands.
[“Glad you remember me,”] Top’s voice came through the phone.
“If you don’t want to die, let my romantic partner go right now!” Payu, usually composed, shouted at the top of his lungs. Sai-fah, meanwhile, began to grasp the situation.
[“You sure you want to use that tone with me? What if my hand slips and cuts your romantic partner’s face?”]
“Damned animal!” Payu’s hands trembled with rage. Top’s words forced him to take deep breaths, trying to cool the fire in his heart, but it did nothing. His anxiety and worry about what Top might do to Rain only grew. The thought of Sai-fah’s comment about the groceries hanging outside for hours, likely spoiled, hit him hard.
How long has Top had Rain?
“What do you want? Name it,” Payu said, his voice slightly calmer.
[“Now we’re talking,”] Top replied.
“You’ve got a problem with me, not my romantic partner. Let him go!” Payu demanded.
[“Don’t worry, I’ll let him go. But only after you trade yourself for him.”]
Payu knew Rain was just bait to lure him into a trap. Normally, someone like Payu wouldn’t do something so foolish. But in a moment like this…
“Where? I’m coming to you right now!” Payu shouted.
“Hey, Payu, calm down!” Sai-fah grabbed his brother’s shoulder, urging him to think clearly. It was obvious this was a trap meant to take Payu down. Did he really plan to walk into it so easily?
But his twin brother didn’t care.
“Where? Tell me where you are!” Payu demanded.
[“You’ve got half an hour to come alone. If you try anything funny, I’ll cut your romantic partner’s face, one slice at a time…”]
“Damned shit-lizard, where are you?” Payu shouted again. Top still hadn’t said where he was or what he wanted. Payu was ready to do whatever Top demanded. If it meant going alone, Payu would go alone, as long as his little one was safe.
[“Calm down, man. If you keep yelling at me, my hand might slip and hit your romantic partner’s face.”]
Crunch!
Payu clenched his jaw so tightly the veins bulged. He wanted to kill Top with his bare hands, but right now, Top held the upper hand. As long as Rain was safe, Payu would do anything.
[“Come alone. If my people see you with anyone else, I’ll deal with your romantic partner. No police, unless you want this to end ugly. Don’t worry, I won’t touch your romantic partner. If you do everything I say, I’ll let both you and him go. Sound good?”]
Payu knew it wasn’t that simple. Top wouldn’t just let him show up and release Rain easily. That losing dog planned to crush him instead.
It was a stupid plan, one only a dim-wit would come up with. But… it worked every time.
If Payu were calmer, if he had more composure, if he weren’t so frantic, he could’ve countered this plan easily. But right now, if it meant saving Rain even a minute sooner, he’d be the fool walking into this stupid trap meant to exact revenge on him alone.
Payu wouldn’t let Top drag Rain into this!
[“I’ll send you the address. Remember, alone. Half an hour.”]
“Damned animal!” Payu cursed.
Crash!
The moment Top hung up, Payu swore loudly, his long leg kicking the large table, sending it crashing to the floor. Items scattered, but Payu didn’t care. He was furious beyond reason.
How dare Top touch his romantic partner!
Ding!
A notification sounded. Payu lifted his phone and grew even angrier. Not only had Top used Rain’s phone to send the address, but he’d also sent a photo of Rain—disheveled, mouth bound, with a cutter pressed to his cheek.
…Don’t try anything funny…
Whoosh!
“Hey, Payu! Calm down, big brother, calm down!” Payu spun around, rushing out of the house, but Sai-fah leapt after him, grabbing his shoulders, trying to calm him. Payu shook him off and stepped forward to block his path.
“Calm down, my ass! You saw Rain’s in his hands. Get out of my way, I’m not wasting time here!” Payu shouted.
“It’s a trap!” Sai-fah said.
“Yeah, I know it’s a trap. But if he wants me, I’ll walk into it myself. If that keeps Rain safe, Sai-fah, I’m not arguing with you. Move before I lose it!” Payu yelled. That losing dog wouldn’t dare do more than call him out for a beating to settle the score. No matter how much Top hated him, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to kill Payu over a racetrack feud.
Payu knew Top wanted revenge. He’d give Top what he wanted, as long as he didn’t touch Rain.
Payu’s unwavering gaze met Sai-fah’s, but his twin refused to step aside.
“Don’t worry, he won’t kill me,” Payu said, softening slightly at Sai-fah’s worried eyes. The twins hadn’t shown concern for each other in a long time, but they both knew they cared deeply. This time was no different. Payu knew Sai-fah was heated too, but he was trying to stay calm, seeing Payu’s rage.
Payu reiterated, “He can’t do anything to your big brother… You don’t need to do anything.”
The older twin patted the younger’s shoulder, eyes locked. Sai-fah looked down at his hands, conceding.
Sai-fah’s surrender let Payu stride past, hop on his trusty bike, and speed off. Sai-fah ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
“If you weren’t my brother, I wouldn’t care,” Sai-fah muttered to himself, walking back into the house and picking up the phone to call someone.
“Top! You sure about this? This isn’t a game—it’s kidnapping!” Sai-fah said.
Meanwhile, Top hung up from Payu with a smug grin, but his expression soured when his close friend warned him with a fearful look. Top glanced at Warain, who glared back with eyes that could devour, the small figure struggling for freedom despite being tied hand and foot to a chair.
The little one’s furious gaze made Top’s friend uneasy.
Though they’d always been Top’s lackeys, enjoying the cars, parties, women, or whatever his money provided, even joining in when Top ambushed and beat someone who crossed them, kidnapping was too far.
If Top had asked them to ambush Payu for a beating, they might’ve agreed easily. But taking someone’s person from their home? If the police got involved, it wouldn’t just be a fight—it’d be serious trouble.
Top would get off, thanks to his rich Phô, but the rest of them?
“So what?” Top snapped, clearly irritated, his grudge from the recent loss fueling him.
“Let the youth go, man. If you want to get back at Payu, we can just ambush him,” his friend said.
“And you think he’d just stand there and let you beat him?” Top shouted, turning to the guy he’d paid to grab Rain. He was annoyed to see Rain showing no fear, glaring back with the same contempt as his romantic partner!
“What’re you staring at, shit-lizard?” Top yelled.
Top had considered his friend’s suggestion, but something told him taking down Payu wouldn’t be that easy. After much thought, the image of that gay couple kissing on the track flashed in his mind. If Payu loved his romantic partner so much, Top would make him come crawling to be beaten until he was satisfied.
Plus, getting Rain showed Top how frantic Payu was. It’d teach him how much Top had suffered from the defeat Payu dealt him.
Top didn’t plan to kill anyone. He just wanted… revenge that felt good.
“If you were a pretty girl, I’d have ruined you and tossed you back to your romantic partner. But a gay like you? I won’t dirty my hands,” Top said.
“Mmph!” Rain struggled, making the chair creak, lunging forward as if he wanted to punch Top.
Whoosh!
Top yanked the cloth off Rain’s mouth, and…
Spit!
The seemingly harmless little one spat in the bigger man’s face.
“My Phûa would never lose to a shit-lizard like you!” Rain shouted.
Smack!
Top punched Rain full in the face, making his head snap to the side, blood trickling from his nose. But Rain jerked his head back.
“Someone like you, who plays dirty, could never beat my Phûa! Oh, wait—no, even playing dirty, you still can’t win, you loser!” Rain might fear someone like Chai, but he wasn’t scared of a shit-lizard who couldn’t accept defeat and resorted to dirty tricks. He knew he could be hurt any moment, but the thought of Top luring Payu for revenge made him furious.
Don’t touch my Phûa, you damned animal!
“You!” Top growled.
Grab!
“Top, calm down, man, calm down! If you mess with this kid now, you think Payu will just stand there and let you hit him when he arrives?” his friend said.
Rain’s eyes widened. He realized what Top wanted: to lure Payu here to beat him.
Normally, Rain believed Payu wouldn’t lose, but with him as a hostage…
“Let me go, you shit-lizards! Let me go! If you touch Payu, I’ll kill you all!” Rain shouted.
“Shut him up!” Top’s friend ordered the hired guy. The more Rain talked, the angrier Top got. If this kept up, Rain’s face might be bloodied before Payu even arrived.
The order made Top’s man retie Rain’s mouth as he struggled fiercely, glaring at the loser with utmost rage.
“Wipe his blood too,” the friend said.
“Mmph!” Rain tried to dodge, making muffled sounds through the gag.
Top sneered wickedly.
“I was gonna let you go easy, but it seems after I’m done with Payu, I’ll take the blood from your mouth,” Top growled, then stormed out of sight.
“I’m outta here, man. You think Payu won’t call the cops?” one of Top’s friends whispered.
Rain froze, hearing the hushed conversation.
“Yeah, I think so too. I thought Top was just gonna mess with him like the others who pissed him off. At most, hire someone to beat him. But dragging an innocent person into this? And don’t you feel like Payu’s kinda scary?” another said.
Pathetic. Even your friends won’t back you up, Rain thought.
Rain scanned the unfinished building. When they brought him here, they’d blindfolded him. Though terrified, he tried to stay calm, thinking who could’ve done this. He wasn’t wrong—it was Top.
What about that Pakin guy? Rain had asked Payu if Top would come after them, and he’d done it just three days after losing the race. Did that mean Pakin hadn’t dealt with him yet, or did they just ignore Pakin’s words?
Rain didn’t know where he was. Tied to a chair facing away from the window, all he could see was the construction site and Top’s three men guarding the room. From their conversation, it seemed only Top’s two friends and the hired guy were there.
Payu, don’t come alone, Rain thought.
Rain knew his romantic partner was smart and wouldn’t listen to that damned nuisance. But his heart felt an odd fear.
He was scared Payu would do what Top threatened.
I’m fine, Payu. A couple of cuts on my face? Screw it. There are plenty of good doctors. But don’t come alone, Rain thought.
Rain prayed silently, reciting every prayer he knew. Though scared, he knew they weren’t after him—they wanted his romantic partner. He was terrified Payu would walk into the trap because of him.
If I get out of this, I’m not calling the cops. I’ll post your pictures all over social media, expose your vileness, you animal! Rain thought.
But what he feared came true.
“Right on time, Payu,” Top said.
The handsome man with his hair loosely tied at the nape stood before Rain. Rain struggled, but they held his shoulders to the chair. His round eyes, initially fearless, filled with tears. He hadn’t thought Payu would be this foolish.
Payu looked at him, checking he was okay.
Payu’s sharp face was tense, his eyes blazing with anger, but they turned to frantic concern when they met Rain’s. His fists clenched tightly. Rain knew who Payu wanted to punch most: the guy sitting in another chair, sneering in a way that begged to be killed.
“I came like you wanted. Let Rain go,” Payu said.
“If I let him go now, you won’t do what I say,” Top replied.
“Top!” Payu roared.
Top just raised a hand, signaling.
Click click click!
One of Top’s men pulled out a cutter, extended the blade, and pressed it to Rain’s cheek.
“Talk to me nicely,” Top said.
Payu was on the verge of losing it, but seeing the blade at Rain’s face, he tried to stay as calm as possible. He looked into Rain’s tear-filled eyes, relieved Rain showed no fear. Instead, he saw defiance in his romantic partner’s gaze, but most clearly, concern.
Rain wasn’t worried for himself—he was worried for Payu.
That made Payu try to stay as calm as he could.
“It’s okay. This’ll be over soon, and we’ll go home together,” Payu said.
Those few words made the strong Rain cry.
Payu’s still worried about me when he doesn’t even know what he’s facing! Rain thought.
Rain hadn’t thought he’d cry and let this shit-lizard pity him. But seeing Payu, hearing his voice, meeting his eyes, his weakness overflowed as tears. He struggled, ignoring the ropes cutting his wrists and ankles, ignoring the blade that might slice his face. He just wanted Payu to be safe.
“Yeah, you’ll go home, but not as soon as you think,” Top said.
Payu looked at Rain’s tearful eyes once more, then turned to Top.
“What do you want?” Payu asked.
Top smiled coldly. “Kneel.”
“Mmph!” Rain tried to protest, shaking his head vigorously, begging Payu not to do it. But…
Whoosh!
The man full of dignity threw it all away and knelt before the person he despised.
“Bow your head to the floor,” Top said.
No, Payu, don’t! Don’t do what he says! Rain thought.
Rain shook his head, wanting to scream for Payu not to comply. He wanted to cry harder, helpless to stop him. If Rain had been more careful and not gotten caught, Payu wouldn’t have to do this humiliating thing. But now, he could do nothing. His heart ached as he saw Payu… bow his head to the floor!
“Not there. At my feet,” Top said.
Snap!
Payu looked up with a ferocious glare, but Top just smirked, wiggling his foot to show where Payu should bow.
“You glare at me like that—aren’t you afraid your romantic partner’s face will get ruined?” Top nodded to his lackey.
Grab!
Suddenly, Rain’s hair was yanked back, forcing his head up. He flinched as the blade moved from his cheek to his eye.
“I’m doing it! I’ll do what you say!” Payu said, voice strained, eyes panicked, unable to stay calm anymore. He gritted his teeth, knelt before Top, glanced at Rain trembling under the blade, and… bowed his head to Top’s feet.
The sight made Top grin with utter satisfaction.
“Record this, guys. This is what happens to people who think they’re better than me,” Top said.
You damned animal! Let Payu go! You have no right to touch him! Rain thought.
Rain sobbed in his throat as Top placed a hand on Payu’s hair, ruffling it like a dog’s, raising two fingers for the camera with Payu bowed at his feet.
The image was heart-wrenching.
Rain thought he was hurt, but what about Payu? How would a man who never lost feel, doing something like this?
Because of me. If I hadn’t been caught, Payu wouldn’t be facing this, Rain thought.
Drip, drip, drip.
The tears that had welled up now streamed down Rain’s face. But this pitiful sight didn’t move Top beyond satisfaction. He felt superior, as always. The defeat was swept away, the humiliation replaced by the thrill of victory.
“Called me a losing dog, huh?” Top sneered.
Smack!
As soon as he finished, Top swung his foot, kicking Payu’s chin as he bowed. Payu’s head snapped back, his tall frame collapsing to the floor, unprepared. But it didn’t end there.
Grab!
Top lunged, flipping Payu over, raising a fist to strike his smug face. But… Payu caught it in time.
“You dare? Your romantic partner’s in my hands. You dare resist me? Want to see him hurt? Let me tell you, if you don’t satisfy me, I’ll have my guys ‘take care’ of him until he can’t walk straight!” Top yelled.
“Payu!” Rain thought.
Though Top had kicked him full in the chin, Payu glared at him with the same contempt. It enraged Top, who’d thought himself the winner. He’d planned to use Rain only as a hostage, but now he wanted to go further.
Both Payu and his romantic partner pissed him off!
“You said you wouldn’t touch my romantic partner!” Payu shouted back.
“If you satisfy me, I won’t. Hey! Slap that kid’s face!” Top yelled, as if to show what he could do. His lackey raised a hand and slapped Rain’s cheek, making his head turn. Payu nearly lunged at the little one.
“You want to do something, do it to me! Don’t touch my romantic partner, you sissy-faced shit!” Payu yelled.
“You dare insult me, Payu?” Top redirected his attention to the man he was pinning down. He yanked his fist free from Payu’s grip, raising it again to slam into Payu’s handsome face. This time, Payu didn’t fight back, only raising his hands to block the fists pounding his face.
“Don’t mess with me. Anyone who does ends up like this!” Top shouted.
Smack! Smack!
Fists slammed into flesh, echoing loudly. Top didn’t care that his knuckles were splitting. The man he hated had to be in worse shape. Any part Payu couldn’t guard, Top pummeled relentlessly, thrilled that Payu could fight but couldn’t strike back as he wanted.
If I’d brought a gang to jump him, would I get a punching bag that doesn’t fight back like this? So damn satisfying, Top thought.
Drip, drip.
No, Payu, fight back! Fight! Don’t worry about me, fight! Don’t let him do this to you! Rain thought.
The sight made Rain’s tears stream down, his heart stabbed as if by a knife, watching his love beaten without fighting back. He screamed inside for Payu to fight, to ignore him, but Payu’s sharp eyes told him… It’s okay.
I’m fine, Rain. Don’t worry, Payu’s gaze seemed to say.
How could Rain not worry?
“Mmph! Mmph!” Rain tried to scream.
Let me go, you shit-lizards! Don’t mess with my Phûa! Rain thought.
Rain struggled until his whole body ached, but he could only watch Payu take the one-sided beating. He was furious, wanting to kill Top with his bare hands, but what could he do? Despair blanketed his heart, matched by the overwhelming regret flooding in.
Please! Someone help Payu! Please! I’ll be good, I won’t be reckless, I’ll study hard, I’ll be a good son, I’ll do good my whole life. Just stop this! Someone help Payu! Rain thought.
Rain sobbed with all his strength, looking through a veil of tears at Payu, curled up as Top kicked him.
“Mmph!” Rain cried.
Whoosh!
Rain thrashed and shook his head until the cloth over his mouth finally came loose.
“Stop, you shit-lizard! Don’t hurt Payu! Stop, you sissy-faced jerk! Come at me, you damned animal! Let me go, you shit-lizards! If you didn’t play dirty, you couldn’t touch Payu. You’re just a loser, and you’ll always be a loser!” Rain shouted in rage, heedless that his words would reignite Top’s anger.
Smack!
Top kicked Payu’s ribs as he lay curled on the floor, then turned to the defiant kid.
“Want to end up like your Phûa?” Top taunted.
“Yeah, come on! Without dirty tricks, you can’t beat my Phûa!” Rain yelled.
Grab!
Top lunged at Rain, whose face was streaked with tears. Rain’s eyes held no fear, only contempt and pain. But Top froze because…
“Payu!” The man thought to be unconscious grabbed Top’s ankle. Top shouted, trying to shake free, but the injured Payu held on.
“Don’t… touch… my Mia…” Payu forced out, refusing to let Top harm his boy.
Top raised his other foot, stomping on Payu’s hand.
“Aargh!” Payu cried out in pain, releasing his grip. But…
Grab!
Before Top could go after the sobbing Rain, Payu grabbed his ankle with his other hand.
“I said—don’t—touch—my Mia!” Payu growled.
Thud!
Payu’s injured gaze made Top freeze, a chill running down his spine. Fear gripped his heart, realizing that in any other situation, Payu would crush him. Top reassured himself he held the upper hand—Payu couldn’t touch him.
“Real love, huh? I’ll make your Mia suffer just like you!” Top suppressed his fear, turning to his men. “Beat that kid!”
Rain wasn’t scared, glaring at the man giving orders. Top felt another chill from Rain’s gaze.
They look at me the same way, Top thought.
“Hurry up!” Top shouted, fear making his voice louder. Just then…
“I think that’s enough,” a cold voice echoed from the doorway.
Everyone turned, startled, to see… one of Pakin’s men.
A man in a pitch-black suit stared at Top with unmasked ferocity. Rain, who’d been scared of Chai since their first meeting, froze. Chai had only two men with him, half the number of Top’s crew, but no one in the building dared move. One of Chai’s men held a beaten lookout by the arm, while the other carried a gleaming black object that made everyone uneasy.
Seeing the situation turn bad, Top’s friend recording the scene widened his eyes and turned to flee.
Crash!
Before he could escape through the back door, he was slammed back into the room by… Sai-fah.
“Am I late?” Sai-fah asked.
Sai-fah turned to his twin, who shouldn’t have had the strength to respond.
“Better than not showing up,” Payu said.
That’s right. As Payu was about to leave the house, he’d spotted someone lurking outside the fence. What he did was flash his phone screen to Sai-fah, showing the address Top sent, even as they shouted at each other.
Finally, help had arrived.
Comments
Post a Comment