Content Warning: This work is intended for mature (NC17) audiences. If you are younger, please kindly leave this site.
~~~
“Get out. I will drive myself.”
Oat told Shin as soon as they met, right on the dot of their appointment time. The half-Thai young man did not argue, agreeing to move to the passenger seat. He looked at the senior who today looked different from usual, wearing jeans and a dark shirt, appearing more relaxed than ever. And although the entire journey from the meeting point to the race track was filled with silence, as if the other party was concentrating, Shin had something else to observe instead.
Phîi Oat drove in an interesting way.
Who would have thought that a man who lived by such strict rules would be driving, overtaking from the left and right, using speeds that the traffic police would certainly not appreciate. However, it was not the kind of aggressive driving that would make people curse from behind, because it was smooth, as if he knew exactly when to turn the steering wheel.
Suffice it to say, when this man drove, it probably made women want to sign up to be the hood ornament.
“Khun can still change your mind.”
“No, thank you.” That was the entirety of the conversation during the trip. And Shin was not the type to break an awkward atmosphere between them. Since the other party wanted to put up a wall, he did not think about breaking it down right now. Furthermore, the half-Thai young man had said himself that he would not be a burden, so that included the other party's emotional burdens as well.
The lack of conversation made Oat feel indescribably relieved.
“We are almost there.” And when the luxury car turned onto the famous road in the middle of Bangkok, Oat nodded forward, making Shin frown sharply.
Well, he admitted that when he first learned it was a street race, he pictured those troublesome youth gangs that cause problems for society.... But nothing he imagined would be like this.
The entrance area was visibly cordoned off. The people controlling it did not look like teenagers at all. Their eyes and demeanor told Shin these people were not ordinary. Furthermore, every vehicle driving in was not the type of motorcycle one borrows from their father, that was for sure, because everyone was not riding, but driving.
At this moment, the cars driving in looked like they had moved a small luxury car showroom here... Porsche, Benz, Lamborghini, even a Maserati was visible.
“Hey, Âi Oat, did you change your car or what?”
“Just a little, Phîi.” Oat rolled down the window to talk to the controller, who seemed unwilling to let a strange-plated car enter easily. But merely seeing who it was, that fierce face relaxed into a familiar smile. Moreover, he lowered his gaze to look at the person in the passenger seat.
“And who is that? Heh heh, did you finally get yourself a hood ornament?” the other said in a good-natured way. The listener just smiled faintly; he had known he would be asked. He shook his head.
“No, it is a friend. He was just interested, so I brought him along.”
“Oh, really? What a pity. Well, you should hurry. Today, Max has been boasting everywhere that he has already beaten you outside the field. Today he will make you ashamed.”
These words made Oat's eyebrows furrow together for a moment before relaxing into an irritated smile.
“But I do not believe it. With a face like his... And you, young man, be careful. New faces always attract attention.” The controller said while waving them to drive in, but he still leaned down to warn the red-headed young man with a strange look in his eyes.
But there was no way Shin would be afraid; he merely laughed inwardly. “This event really looks as fun as I thought it would be,” Shin said to himself, as the driver already knew that there was no way he would simply give up and go back easily.
“An event like this could not be organized without real money.” Then Shin remarked quietly, knowing that closing down an entire road like this, without fear of the police, must require a lot of money. Because none of the people here seemed to fear the law; it was more like a social gathering for high society. Except... this was not a party in a grand ballroom, but in the middle of the road with luxury cars parked in rows.
“It is not just money. You need influence too.” The former Head wák added while looking at the large truck that had brought several powerful, large motorcycles. He saw his friend flash by, almost stepping out of the car, but his peripheral vision caught sight of something else.
“See that?” Oat pointed towards a man who was leaning his hips against a luxury brand car, making the person beside him nod.
“It is best to stay away from that person.”
“Who is he?” Shin narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at the tall man who was probably in his mid-twenties, but the look in his eyes as they swept over the event seemed more menacing than his real age suggested.
His demeanor seemed dangerous enough Âi Oat's warning seemed more credible. However... a person like Nai Chonnon was never afraid of anything. Scarier than this... he had encountered before.
“The event organizer... Âi Payu, my friend, is close with him.”
Shin turned to meet his gaze as if asking why he would warn him to be careful if they knew each other. That made Oat sigh, feeling like he wanted to smash his head hard for once.
“Khun must know that having money alone is not enough. If you do not have influence too, they would have been arrested already. Phîi Pakin might be close with my friend, but that does not mean he gives face to anyone. If Khun does something that displeases him, I cannot help Khun.” The listener was silent for a moment before nodding as if it were simple.
“I told you, Phîi, to just bring me. For the rest, there is no need to worry about me. I am not Âi Dear.” The half-Thai young man said laughingly, making the listener feel slightly more annoyed.
“If it were Dear, I would never have brought him here in the first place.”
“I thought so.” Shin laughed amusedly and stepped out of the car. He did not care at all that the appearance of the person beside him was attracting the gaze of many people. And it seemed those gazes were extended to him as well, making him think involuntarily.
Âi Dear was not suited for a place like this at all.
However, even though his eyes swept around with interest, it was not that Shin failed to observe one thing... Phîi Oat was waiting for him.
Even though his mouth said he did not care, somehow this man still had not abandoned his habit of taking care of others.
Is that so?
The thought of the person who remembered the time the senior had waited until he got in the car and drove away from the university, and now the other party was walking beside him, as if telling everyone who he came with. An action that he knew was subtly protective, making Shin feel amused.
A person like him did not need anyone to take care of him; he was more likely to be the one taking care of others.
“Oh, you managed to get him to bring you after all.” And as soon as he stepped within range, Sai-fah, who was bending down and looking up near a large sports bike, looked up to greet him. He even walked over and slapped Shin's shoulder hard, as if respecting him for making his close friend agree to bring him along.
“I still have not settled things with you for telling him.” Oat injected
“Come on, Âi Oat, look at this youth first. Is there anything about him to worry about?” Sai-fah had no sense of guilt, just laughing loudly and pointing at 'this youth,' who raised the corners of his mouth in a smile, his eyes sweeping around.
And that made another young man, who was supervising people unloading several sports bikes, turn to look. “Is this the youth who dared to challenge you in the cheer team room?”
Shin stared at the speaker's face before noticing something. This man had long hair reaching his shoulders, tied into a small bun at the nape of his neck, yet it made his tall frame look even more handsome. However, his sharp eyes, high nose bridge, well-shaped lips—everything bore some resemblance to the third-year senior like Phîi Sai-fah. It was just that Phîi Sai-fah had a beard covering his face, that was all.
“Heh heh, this is my twin brother, Payu.”
“Sai-fah, Payu... Why could I not guess it?” Shin said laughingly, making Sai-fah laugh loudly, true to his name, before hugging his twin brother's neck firmly and introducing him as he did every time someone saw them both together.
“It just so happened we were born on a day of great catastrophe. A storm came in, the sky thundered all night. Especially during birth, wow, I thought the sky was falling...”
“Do not exaggerate. Pretending like you knew what was happening then. Mom just said a storm came in, you always overstate things.” Payu shook his head slightly before removing his twin brother's arm and turning to look at his close friend from a different faculty.
“Are you going to choose the same bike? I had the kids at home modify it a bit.”
Oat nodded immediately before following his friend towards the large motorcycle. If Dear were to stand next to it, the seat would probably be right up to his chest, for sure. Shin's pair of sharp eyes gazed at the Head wák without looking away.
“You are lucky, Shin.”
“How so khrap?” Shin raised an eyebrow slightly, turning to look at the senior who said it laughingly, then nodded towards that person who was bending down and looking up by that bike.
“If the girls were screaming when Oat revealed himself as Phîi ra-bìap, you have to see when Oat races. Whatever girl wants to sleep with him.” He then pointed to the many beautiful young women at the event, and the half-Thai young man even laughed aloud. When he saw many eyes staring at Phîi Oat with a gleam, throwing themselves at him openly.
“And does he take them?”
“You can probably guess. He does not take them. He races for fun, not to pick up young women. He is not interested in rewards like this.”
“Do you not think your friend is gay?” Shin said simply, making the listener laugh loudly and hug his neck tightly as if they had been close since a previous life.
“You try to prove it then. I want to know too.” The listener narrowed his eyes a little, looking at the playful person who was speaking laughingly.
But for some reason, the look in the senior's eyes seemed serious, contrary to his expression, making Shin just pull the other's hand from his neck and raise a mischievous smile. “Am I being challenged by Phîi?”
“Heh heh, think what you will.” At these words, the half-Thai young man turned to look at the Head wák again and found that this was the first time he had ever seen this kind of expression from Phîi Oat. The person whose eyes were clearly showing enjoyment and pleasure, his large hand stroking the handlebars of the big bike as if it were his beloved child.
An expression that Shin said frankly was... attractive.
“It might be worth a try.” In the end, Nai Chonnon managed to voice his reply.
Shin admitted that he had not been very interested in anything for a while now, but today, besides opening his eyes and ears, it also made him more excited than usual, to the point where his eyes could not leave the race track where luxury cars were revving their engines loudly all along the road, in a way that no local resident dared to come out and confront.
It looked so fun that he wanted to try it.
***
“Âi Max! Are you stupid to challenge Âi Oat to a race? You know how good he is!”
“So what? So what if he is good! I am better than him, that is all!”
“You? Last time you got dumped by a girl because you lost to him, was that not embarrassing enough?”
Thwack.
“Âi shit-lizard!”
Shin, who was standing in one corner, could only turn to follow the voices before seeing two men talking angrily. And the name in the conversation made Shin interested enough to follow. And if he remembered correctly, one of them was Âi'jerk who challenged him to a race the previous week, along with his friend. And it seemed his friend's words had stabbed a sore spot too much, so he grabbed his collar like that.
Clear losers looking for a fight.
Shin stretched out a smile, standing and watching quietly. He wanted to know what dirty trick he would play this time.
“I will not end up under him again! You remember that.” Âi'jerk said in a low voice, staring at his friend with an irritated look, but the other just pulled his hand away.
“I am warning you because I mean well. Do not forget what you have to do if you lose to him.”
“I told you I will not lose!”
“And what will you use to fight him!!”
“I have pushed him off the track before, why could I not do it again! Besides, you help me! Go puncture his tires or something.” These words made Shin frown sharply. Listening to it, that which Phîi Oat said about there being rules here... it seemed certain that some people around here did not think to follow the rules. And that made him move closer to the back of the car he was using to hide, looking through the gap to see the faces of those two again.
Click.
But then, the person who was standing eavesdropping turned sharply towards the back. His eyes widened slightly as he stepped back until he bumped into the car he was hiding behind, and that made him see... the person Phîi Oat said not to get involved with.
“Eavesdropping on others' conversations is not good, you know khrap.” Pakin said with a polite smile, his voice pleasant, both hands in his pants pockets. But his eyes held a warning, making Shin collect his thoughts. After just a moment, he stretched out a smile, his back straightening, not showing any sign of fear towards the person in front of him at all.
“I heard there are rules here.”
“Yes, there are rules here.”
“And if someone thinks about breaking the rules?”
The listener fell silent immediately, looking at the young man in front of him who was several years younger and might be one of the few people who dared to meet his gaze steadily without looking away. Moreover, those words were like accusing him of not being able to make everyone here uphold the rules.
“Hey, what is going on.... Phîi Pakin!”
Then it seemed the sound of the two people talking made the person on the other side of the luxury car rush out, looking for trouble. But merely seeing who was standing there, his two legs halted immediately, his eyes widening.
“Hey Max, I heard you are thinking of breaking my rules or what?”
“N...No! Me, break the rules? Who is slandering me like that... You! You are slandering me, right!” Then the person named Max, who acted afraid at first, turned sharply to look at Shin's face, making the half-Thai young man raise an eyebrow slightly, looking more annoying fucker than curious.
His demeanor made Max's eyebrow twitch. Even though he was quite afraid of the event owner, merely looking clearly at the person standing with him, he almost flinched, as people do when they have a past transgression. He remembered that this youth came with Âi Oat, and that was enough to make Max charge at him immediately.
Thwack.
“Do not think that just because you came with Âi Oat you can slander me! No one here dares to break the rules, all of them!!!”
Shin's collar was grabbed with full force. Moreover, the other moved closer, his eyes clearly showing intimidation, thinking this new youth was still harmless. But that seemed to be a serious misjudgment of the person.
“But I heard it.”
“You dare argue with me?!”
“And why should I not dare to argue with you?” The half-Thai young man stared back with a calm, steady gaze.
Whoosh.
Crash!!!
Max was so angry he saw stars. Moreover, he lost face in front of the influential event owner. Therefore, he drew back his fist, intending to smash it into the handsome face that dared to fucker with him. But before the heavy fist could hit anything, his entire body lifted up. Then the troublemaker lay on the ground counting stars, not even having time to realize what had happened.
Whoosh.
After that, Shin's heavy foot stepped down on the chest of the person lying spread out on the ground. His handsome face leaned down, his eyes shining with a dangerous glint. Then... his lips lifted into a smile.
A mocking one.
“Has anyone ever told you to look carefully before picking a fight with someone... Is defending myself considered against the rules here?” Shin turned to look at Pakin, who was momentarily stunned by the young man who had grabbed the person swinging a fist and thrown him in the blink of an eye. But after a moment, he himself raised an amused smile.
“If it is self-defense, it is not considered wrong. But you have no right to hurt someone who is about to race. Oh, and if you come with Oat, who is Max's competitor, that makes it even more serious.” Pakin said while looking at the person who still had not recovered, making Shin, who wanted to stomp his foot down again, merely lift his foot back to the ground once more, at the moment when another person rushed into the circle.
“What happened!” Oat, who had run over from another direction, asked in a strong voice, when he saw the junior he had brought was there.
“Is this person with you, Oat?”
“Yes, he is with me. Is there something?” Oat said in a strong voice, moreover stepping closer to his junior's body. Even though his mouth said he would not help, in reality, he stood beside him to subtly say... I protect him.
A gesture that made Shin shrug his shoulders amusedly.
“He attacked me! Are you going to play dirty with me or what, Âi Oat! Phîi Pakin, he picked a fight with me!!!”
As soon as the person counting stars regained consciousness, he quickly got up from the ground, furious and humiliated by all the eyes staring at him, and shouted loudly. He made as if to rush at Oat, but was stopped as his friend ran to grab him first.
“Picked a fight?... But what I saw was you attacking him first.”
“Phîi Pakin!”
“What, are you going to say I am picking a fight with you too?” Pakin turned to lower his voice, warning him subtly not to cross the line. And that made Max even angrier, so he could only clench his fists tightly, wanting to curse out loud but too afraid to do so. He could only jerk his fist down and turn to look at Oat with vengeance instead.
“If you want to fight, go fight on the track. If you cause trouble, you know what will happen, right? Oh, and do not think about breaking my rules.” The warning made Max only grit his teeth, before shaking off his friend and stepping away in another direction immediately.
The situation resolving itself made Shin feel a little impressed by the man named Pakin, before he frowned sharply and looked down at his own arm... Phîi Oat had grabbed his arm quite tightly.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing.” Shin answered Oat simply. He thought the threatening words of the man named Pakin would surely make Âi'jerk not dare to do what he was thinking. Therefore, he did not need to say.
“Oat, is this your youth?”
Thud.
But then, Pakin's question made Oat freeze. He turned to meet the other's gaze, and something he saw in his eyes made him feel uneasy, since he knew something well... if Phîi Pakin set his sights on someone, he never missed, whether it was a woman or a man.
Thwack.
“Yes, my youth khrap.”
Shin even raised his eyebrows in surprise, turning to look at the person beside him who squeezed his arm even tighter. He had not thought Phîi Oat would say that, since before this he had told everyone they were just friends. And something in the tone of voice that was clearly lying, he instead... felt a jolt in his heart.
“Heh heh, like this, I am starting to want to challenge you to a race then... The prize being...” Shin even had his eyebrow twitch when he saw the look in the other's eyes as he gazed over, and being the same type of person, how could he not see it?
“I do not think so. 'My person' will not become the prize.” But then, Oat pulled his junior's arm behind him a little more, moreover saying in a strong voice, making Shin fall silent immediately at.... 'my person'.
I know Phîi Oat just said it, but I still managed to stumble over it.
The half-Thai young man shook his head slightly as the listener also nodded and said simply.
“What a pity.” Having said that, Pakin was about to step away in another direction.
“Wait!”
“Hmm.”
“Looking at me, you should know that I do not think about being under anyone.” But then, at the moment Pakin was about to leave, Shin spoke up quietly, making Oat squeeze his arm even tighter, as if to say 'what did you say?' And that made the listener turn back immediately, staring at the red-haired youth steadily, before raising a faint smile.
“Then let me tell you, I am good at taming people.” Having said that, he waved his hand slightly and stepped away in another direction, leaving Shin to only make a wry face. He got goosebumps rising like that time he’d misunderstood Ai-Sun-numbnuts as wanting to screw him. In the end, he could only sigh boredly and look down at his own hand.
“Are you going to squeeze my arm much longer?”
“I told you, did I not, not to get close to Phîi Pakin.” Instead of letting go, Oat spoke in a stern voice, staring at the junior who showed no sign of being intimidated. Moreover, he spoke laughingly.
“Are you jealous of me or something?”
"Chonnon!"
“Sigh, has anyone told you that this is not the cheer team room?” Shin said with a laugh in his voice, making the worried person's face tense. He almost retorted but fell silent, raising his hand to rub his head hard in frustration.
“Let us just say, do not get close to Phîi Pakin.”
“Hey, Phîi Oat, I have told you many times that I am not Âi Dear, and I can take care of myself.” That which he said about wanting this Phîi Oat was true, but being compared to Âi-dog-named that many times, he got annoyed too. And that made Oat frown sharply.
Thwack.
“I did not compare Dear to anyone. You are you, Dear is Dear. Yes, I like Dear, but that does not mean I do not worry about you. At the very least, you are here under my protection!” Then the Head wák grabbed Shin's arm again, pulling him towards himself. The voice that came out was lowered, as if to let him know he was starting to get angry.
A frightening demeanor that would make others shrink back in fear, but not with Shin, who fell silent immediately, eyes meeting steady, sharp eyes... before he smiled faintly.
“I am happy that you are worried about me.” Words that seemed to emphasize what Oat had just said, making the speaker let go of his hand immediately, staring for just a moment, at the moment when Sai-fah came running over.
“Hey, Âi Oat, your turn...”
“Take care of him.” In the end, Oat pulled his gaze away from the challenging eyes of the half-Thai youth, turning to tell his friend in an irritated voice, then strode off in another direction, making the twin brother turn to look at the junior a bit.
“What did you do to make him angry?”
“Nothing. But your friend is really interesting.”
No matter what Sai-fah asked, Shin had no intention of answering.
***
"If I win, not only will you stay away from the field—you’re also giving me Âi-damned-fucker as my prize?” Max asked Oat.
Shin could only think in utter exasperation, staring at Âi-loser-dog who suddenly demanded to have him as a prize. Not because he wanted him, of course. No, he just wanted to use him as a punching bag for embarrassing him earlier.
Should’ve just smashed his face into the pavement right there.
The thoughts of a person who was starting to think seriously about what he would do if Phîi Oat lost. Of course, free sex, but with a shit-lizard like this, he definitely would not agree. But before he could open his mouth to argue 'don't drag me into being some worthless prize,' Phîi Oat placed a hand on his shoulder and said something that made the junior's mouth drop open.
“Agreed.”
“Hey!!!” Shin turned sharply to meet his gaze immediately, and that made him see a look in his eyes that he had never seen before, even more confident than that.
“I told Khun I have never lost.” Simple words that should not have made the half-Thai youth, who had been through many people, feel his heart beat. But the lump of flesh in his chest beat strongly. Let anyone call him crazy, but he had just realized that a person this confident was so exciting that the words of argument swallowed down in his throat.
“But if I win, you have to do everything I say.” The other party hesitated visibly, but with everyone's eyes on him, he gritted his teeth and accepted reluctantly.
And after that, Shin learned what a person who never loses was like.
Vroooooom.
Two sports bikes revved their engines and raced side by side down the road in the heart of Bangkok. The speed whistled sharply, cutting through the wind. Moreover, the young man on the sports bike leading slightly ahead was so attractive that Shin could not look away. Then his eyes widened even more when Oat leaned his body until it was almost parallel to the road's curve. Even though he was being crowded, Oat did not flinch.
“Just watch,” Sai-fah said with a laugh in his voice.
Vroooooom.
Even though the senior did not say, he stared at the large motorcycle that accelerated in the final stretch, cutting in front of the other bike until the other had to swerve sharply. Then it led into the finish line beautifully, in a way one could not look away from. And the second Shin felt the young women would scream the most was when the former Head wák pulled off his helmet.
An image that Shin thought was... more charming than usual.
“I told Khun I have never lost.”
The owner of the victory stepped closer and said with a steady smile, and Shin decided right then.
Let us just say, I have definitely locked on my target, Khun Phîi wák.
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