Chapter Text
"You promised me, Kinn!" Kim's voice roared inside his brother's office. He just won the national championship -was hailed the best racer of the country, but he's here in his brother's office; screaming in anger.
"Just one more race, Kim." Kinn calmly answered.
"Bullshit!" Kim scoffs at Kinn with much anger in his eyes. "You promised me that I'll take a break if I win this race!"
Kinn only realized the weight of the conversation when Kim slammed both of his hands on his table, right in front of him.
The Theerapanyakul cousins grew up in race track- racing runs in their blood.
It was Tankhun who introduced his brothers and 2 cousins to racing. He was once the most prominent racer-winning left to right, with his brothers and cousins watching and idolizing him. The oldest Theerapanyakul unfortunately had to retire and quit the thing he once loved after a deadly crash from his last race that led him to quitting while carrying the trauma it caused him.
Annakin was a 2 time world champion before retiring and building his own team- Theerapanyakul Race. He took over the race track after his brother quit. He won race after race, making their surname rise to fame again-regaining the title for being the best racer that once belonged to his older brother.
Vegas; he's the 3rd Theerapanyakul to get on racing. He quit college to focus on the track- following 2 of his older cousins' footsteps. Vegas didn't put any shame to their surname as he won multiple races right after Kinn retired.
Macau being the youngest Theerapanyakul was also the youngest in the team. He joined during his last year in high school. Macau dominated the junior race track being an undefeated champion within the bracket-a promising and future world champion as what people call him.
Few years after establishing Theerapanyakul Race, Kinn decided to open his team to racers outside the family.
Big, Arm, and Pol all joined the team after Tankhun braved himself to watch one of Vegas' races, years after his traumatizing crash. He called Kinn saying he saw 3 racers that have huge potential and will be a great addition to their team.
Porsche; Annakin's boyfriend whom he met in the race track was the last non-Theerapanyakul to join the team. He eagerly nodded when Kinn asked him if he wanted to join their team-since then, Porsche has been trying his very best to be the best racer and aiming for the world championship.
Kimhan Theerapanyakul; the youngest from the 3 siblings, was the last one to join the team. The last member yet the biggest threat from not just their competitors but within his own team members as well. The rising star. The monster rookie. The typhoon-like racer that flawlessly swept every single race he played -winning every championship, whether for regional or national races. The racer who rises to stardom in a short period of time. The undefeated biker. The pride of Theerapanyakul Race.
But glued to the fame and titles he got is the heavy pressure put on his shoulders. Pressure and expectations coming from the fans, media, even from their competitors- but the heaviest pressure came from his own brother, Kinn.
Kim never wanted fame, he didn't even want to be the best. He just wanted to enjoy the race track like how he saw the adrenaline fires in his oldest brother's eyes every time he watched him race before.
Kim just wanted to feel included in their family-his brothers and cousins are already in the team, it's expected for him to join as well even if what he really wanted was to do music.
And that pressure started getting heavy that he can't carry them all in his back anymore, he needed a break- a time off away from the track. That was the plan; that was what he planned before winning his last championship.
Kim has bargained day and night for Kinn to allow him to have a short break, he just needed to breathe for a while.
He practiced and practiced, perfecting his game plan for a smooth win in exchange for his short freedom. But all of those went in vain when Kinn suddenly told him that he will be racing for the world championship in 5 months.
"This is the last one, Kim. Please, we need to win the world championship." Kinn calmly talks, his voice almost begging his younger brother.
"Send the other guys, Kinn! There's Vegas and Macau! They can win, you know that!" Kim almost growling at Kinn with his every word, making sure his older brother knows how much his suggestion angers him.
"Vegas will play the national championship next year, Macau will be having his junior semifinals in 3 months."
"Then send Big! There's also Arm and Pol!"
Kinn shook his head, obviously disagreeing with Kim. "Those 3 aren't as good as you, Kim."
"Fucking hell, Kinn!" Kim almost-almost slammed his phone on Kinn's table, the phone that he's been gripping so tight that it might actually bent in half; no difference from slamming it on the table. "Send your boyfriend then! Send Porsche! He's been dying to race for the world championship isn't he? He's been practicing hard for it, send him!"
"No... No, Porsche is-"
"Porsche is what!? You can't send your boyfriend because what? Will he be away from you? You will be away from each other knowing that the championship is in Madrid?" Kim scoffs at his brother, mocking him. "You'll miss him terribly?"
"Kimhan!" Kinn angrily raises his voice at his brother, the first time since Kim joined the team.
Kim only shook his head and let out a heavy sighed "I asked for a short break, Kinn. You promised me I can take a break." He flatly mumbled, shoulders slumping as he felt defeated. "I told you I wanted to finish my 3rd year in uni, I only have 1 semester left."
"What would finishing your studies give you, Kim?" Kinn said in an accusing voice, like Kim just said the biggest joke he heard. "You're already the best racer this country has! Finishing uni wouldn't be an issue anymore!" He added as he walked closer to his brother, showing confidence and power now that Kim is showing signs of defeat. "Look at Vegas! He quit uni to focus on racing and he's doing so great. No one's questioning his educational background, why? Because it doesn't matter! What matters is proudly standing on the stage holding the gold trophy for being a champion."
"But I'm not Vegas..." Kim mumbles, his heart racing and his fingers start tingling. He raises his head to face his brother-eye to eye he looks at Kinn. "I never said I wanted to be the best, Kinn. I only joined the team because everyone in the family is there. I'm only here because I genuinely enjoy the race track! I love how my body fights against the strong wind when I speed up! I love how the adrenaline makes me feel! I race because I enjoy it." He spat every word to Kinn with hopes that his brother would comprehend his words.
"I race because I grew up watching Tankhun in the field! I race because Khun made me love it! I race because I see how it makes Tankhun smile every time I'm on the track, I saw how happy he is seeing me there- I saw how proud he was!" Kim paused and took a few deep breaths before he continued. His words struck Kinn's chest like a knife, digging deeper and deeper with every word he said. "I race not for the title nor recognition, not even for any validation, and most definitely not for the trophy! I race because Takhun can't do it anymore!" And that made Kinn slumped his shoulders down, now feeling defeated; more than how Kim felt earlier.
"Do you understand me, Kinn? I race for Tankhun!"
Kinn swallowed what he thought was the biggest lump in his throat that he ever has, together with it is his ego. "I'm sorry... I- Kim...” he stutters his words while trying to reach for his younger brother's hand. "I'm sorry..."
"Kinn, I just wanted to take a short break. I'm not saying I'm quitting. Let me just go back to uni and finish my degree, after that, I'll be back in the field." Kim said after calming down. With the amount of words he let out in a short period of time and with how he was almost screaming at his brother- Kim felt his throat getting tight and dry.
Kinn knew that Kim was being honest with his words, he knew-but still, he did not let it faze him. "Kim, I just need you to win the world championship. Please, after that I'll let you take a break."
"That's what you said before, but look at us only going in circles with this conversation."
"Kim, please. You're the only one I trust on winning this race. Only you can win the title." Kinn was almost begging, almost had his knees on the floor. "You're the best racer in the team. You're the top racer of the country. Everyone is expecting you to win the championship, Kim. You will win, you have no choice but to win."
Kim shook his head, turned his back, and decided to just leave. The moment Kinn said that he has no choice but to win, Kim already knows that this conversation isn't going anywhere. "What's so special about winning the world championship, Kinn?" He said as he halted his steps.
"You will be the next Theerapanyakul who will step foot at the world championship race after P'Khun and I won the title." Kinn answered. He walked closer to Kim, put his hand on his brother's shoulder, and made a few squeeze, wanting it to come out as an encouraging one -but for Kim it was an indication that Kinn wouldn't accept any answer except for a yes. "Win the world championship, it's time for the title to come back to a Theerapanyakul."