Chapter Text
Rain splashed through the puddles on the deserted road, his eyes fixed on the car's GPS as it led him home from the university's annual campus tour.
Every year, the university welcomed incoming freshmen with a tour of the facilities, and Rain and his bestfriend Sky had just finished his own tour as a prospective student. The excitement of the day still lingered, but the rain-soaked drive home was quickly dampening his mood.
As he turned a corner, the car's engine sputtered and died, plunging him into darkness. Rain groaned in frustration, realizing he was stranded on the side of the road, miles from home. He tried calling his Appa and Paa but to no avail there was no signal. He stepped out into the rain, water dripping down his face as he popped the hood, but the engine's silence was only broken by the rhythmic beat of the raindrops.
Just as he was starting to lose hope, a figure emerged from the rain-soaked shadows. The biker pulled up in front of Rain's car, killed the engine, and dismounted. Rain, feeling a bit scared, slowly stepped aside and backed away, retreating to the safety of his car.
As he was walking back to the safety of his car, the figure took a step closer, chuckling. "Nong, you don't have to be scared, I won't do anything. I own a garage nearby. Would you like me to take a look at your car?" Rain stopped in his tracks, hesitating for a moment. His parents and family had always warned him about stranger danger, but desperation got the better of him. He thought, "Fuck it," and replied, "Yes, umm, phi... it would be really helpful."
The stranger popped the hood and examined the engine, muttering "hmm" as he tinkered. After a few minutes, he closed the hood and said, "Nong, it's all fixed. But make sure to get it to a garage for a thorough checkup once the weather clears up. And don't forget to service your car - it's been a while, hasn't it?" Rain chuckled awkwardly, "Haha, phi... I, um, didn't know. Thanks!"
He hesitated, realizing he had no cash or phone signal to pay the stranger. "Umm, how should I pay you? My phone's out of battery, and I don't have any cash on me." The stranger smiled and handed Rain a business card. "No worries, take this. It's my garage's card. Come by, and you can pay for today's fix and any other services your car needs. Sound good?" Rain nodded gratefully, "Okay, phi, thank you!"
With that, the handsome stranger turned his bike around and rode off into the rain-soaked night, disappearing in the opposite direction.
Rain watched the stranger disappear into the night, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude. He drove home, his mind replaying the unexpected encounter. As he pulled up to the house, he saw a figure standing in the front doorway - his Appa, scowling and holding a wooden spatula. Rain's heart sank. "Shiaa! I forgot to tell Appa and Paa I went to the bar... Ahh, I'm dead." He hesitated in the car, gripping the door handle, before taking a deep breath and stepping out.
As soon as he emerged, his Appa called out, "Lee Varain Kirigun, what time do you think it is? You didn't call or send a single message, and it's raining! Do you know how worried we've been? Chai mai ow hai!" (How could you not tell us!) He gestured to himself and his husband, Tharn (Rain's Paa). "Get inside, you look like a drowned cat! And what's with your hair? You look like you stuck your finger in a socket! Khao jai mai?" (Are you okay?) "Gwaenchana, Appa" (I'm ok)
Rain's Paa, chuckled and went to fetch a towel, shaking his head. "Rainny, you're going to give your Appa a heart attack one of these days." He handed Rain the towel, who began to dry himself, feeling a bit sheepish.
Appa continued to scold, "And what about your phone? You know we worry when we can't reach you! And on a night like this, of all times... Phom mai khao jai!" (I was worried sick!) He trailed off, shaking his head.
Rain apologized, "Sorry, Appa, Paa... my phone had no signal and battery, and then my car broke down. Thankfully, a... handsome... uh, I mean, NICE nice stranger helped me." His Paa raised an eyebrow at the compliment, and Rain quickly corrected himself. "I mean, he was just really kind and helpful, okay?"
Appa's expression softened slightly, but he still looked concerned. "Well,go take a hot shower, i'll reheat your dinner and tell us everything. And next time, please, for the love of all things good, let us know you're safe! "Rain-ah, ihaehae?" "Ne, Appa-yah", hearing the endearment he smiled and went to the kitchen along with Tharn to reheat and prepare a small dessert for him.
Rain closed the door to his room, feeling a mix of relief and exhaustion. He headed to the bathroom, shedding his wet clothes into the laundry basket before stepping into the shower. As the warm water enveloped him, he sighed in contentment, letting the stress of the evening melt away. He showered for a blissful hour, then emerged in a cozy robe, his phone now halfway charged. He opened the Line app to respond to Sky's concerned message, typing out a quick reply: "Just reached home an hour ago, had a crazy encounter to tell you about." Sky's response was immediate, but before Rain could type out a reply, his Paa called out from downstairs, "Rain, dinner's ready!" Rain swiftly sent a voice message to Sky, "Hey, gotta go, Paa's calling me for dinner, will call you later!" He hastily got dressed in a white tank top and grey sweatpants, then headed downstairs to the dining table, his stomach growling in anticipation.
As Rain sat down at the dining table, the aroma of his favorite Thai dishes wafted up, making his stomach growl with anticipation. He smiled at his Paa, Tharn, and asked, "How's the new album coming along? Any new songs you're excited about?"
His Paa a known solo singer with a soulful voice, beamed with pride. "Actually, I've been working on a new single, and I think you'll really like it. I'll play it for you later, okay?"
Rain nodded enthusiastically, taking a bite of his stir-fried noodles. "Can't wait, Paa!"
He turned to his Appa, Type, and asked, "How's the clinic doing? Any interesting cases lately?"
Type, a dentist with a kind smile, chuckled. "Well, I had to deal with a patient who was afraid of needles, but other than that, it's been the usual drill. Get it? Drill?" He winked at Rain, who groaned at the bad pun.
Rain playfully rolled his eyes. "Appa, you're so cheesy!"
As they enjoyed their meal, Tharn asked, "So, Rain, how was the campus tour? What did you think of the Faculty of Arts building?"
Rain's eyes lit up. "It's amazing, Paa! The building is so modern and sleek. And the performance studios are incredible. I can already imagine myself performing on that stage."
Type nodded, interested. "That's great, son. And what about the Criminal Psychology floor? What was your impression?"
Rain took a sip of his water before responding. "It's really impressive, Appa. But I have to say, there's such a huge difference between the two faculties' buildings. The Arts building is so vibrant and colorful, with all these creative installations and performance spaces. But the Criminal Psychology building is more... serious and professional, I guess. It's got a completely different vibe."
"As soon as you enter, you're surrounded by posters and displays about infamous criminals from around the world," Rain continued. "There are profiles on serial killers, case studies on famous murders, and even a display on the psychology of terrorism. It's pretty intense, but it's so fascinating."
Tharn and Type exchanged a glance, intrigued by Rain's observation. "That's a great point, Rain," Tharn said. "The two fields do require different approaches and mindsets."
Type nodded. "Yes, and it's interesting that you're experiencing both sides. We're curious to see how you'll balance your passions for the arts and criminal psychology."
Rain grinned. "I'm excited to find out, Appa! It's going to be a challenge, but I'm ready for it."
Tharn and Type smiled at each other, beaming with pride. "And don't forget, Appa and Paa," Rain added with a cheeky grin, "your son topped the Arite exams!"
As they had finished eating and cleaning the dishes Rain sat on the sofa with his parents.
"Oh, Appa, and you won't believe what I saw on the CP floor (criminal psychology), Rain said, a mischievous glint in his eye. "There was a poster about our Sunny, with the title "The Red Snake"
Type's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really now?"
Rain nodded. "Yes! And get this, there's was no pic since he hasn't shown his face so there was just a bunch of mysterious quotes and facts about his... exploits. When I approached the poster, the senior giving us the tour came over and started telling us all about how Red Snake is like a hero to some people, because they only target bad guys."
Tharn's eyes widened. "That's nice to know that not all hate's our boy. And what about the psychologists wanting to study him?"
Rain grinned. "Yeah, apparently lots of them want to get inside his head, but no one's been able to. The senior said it's like he's a ghost, no one knows his real face or even his gender!"
Type chuckled. "I can imagine Sunny enjoying the secrecy. Did he say anything when you told him about it?"
Rain snickered. "I secretly filmed the whole thing and sent it to him. He just laughed and said 'thanks for the fame, bro'!"
Tharn and Type exchanged a knowing glance, their faces a mix of amusement and concern. "That's our Sunny, always staying one step ahead," Tharn said with a chuckle.
Type nodded. "Yes, and we're proud of him, no matter what. But Rain, you have to be careful too. You're studying criminal psychology, don't let any of them get into your head ok baby" Ye Appa Rain smiled and nodded, used to his parents' concern. "Don't worry, Appa, Paa. I can handle it. Besides, I've got Sunny to guide me through the... shadier aspects of human nature." he said in a coy way. Tharn and Type laughed, knowing that their sons were both clever and always had each other's back no matter what and resourceful in their own ways. "Just be careful, Rain," Tharn said. "And Sunny... well, we'll just have to keep an eye on him, as always."
With the conversation winding down, Rain smiled at his parents. "Thanks for dinner, Appa, Paa. I'm going to head to bed now."
Tharn and Type nodded, their faces warm with love. "Goodnight, baby," Tharn said, opening his arms for a hug.
Rain hugged his father tightly, then turned to Type. "Goodnight, Paa."
Type hugged him just as tightly. "Sweet dreams, Rain. And don't worry, we'll always be here for you and Sunny."
Rain smiled, feeling grateful for his family. "I know, Paa. Thanks."
With that, Rain headed to his bedroom, closing the door behind him. He took a deep breath, feeling the familiar comfort of his room envelop him. He changed into pajamas, brushed his teeth, and climbed into bed, he dialed Sky's number "Hey, Sky! I'm so sorry I didn't call earlier. I was chatting with appa and pa."
Rain said, settling into bed with his phone.
Sky's voice was warm and soothing on the other end. "It's okay, Rain! I was just reading manga anyway. What's up?"
Rain launched into the story of his car breaking down, the handsome stranger, and the unexpected turn of events. "And then, Sky, I saw this poster about Sunny at the university! Can you believe it? I felt like I was going to die from embarrassment thank god he hasn't shown his face."
Sky laughed on the other end. "That's hilarious, Rain! I can just imagine your face. But wow, a handsome stranger, huh? Spill the details!"
Rain giggled, feeling happy to share the story with his best friend. "Okay, okay... so he was tall, dark hair, piercing black eyes... and he had this charming smile. I swear, Sky, my heart skipped a beat."
Sky squealed. "Rain, you're killing me! I need to meet this guy. And what about Sunny? How did he react to the poster?"
Rain filled Sky in on the rest of the story, including Sunny's text message and the conversation with his parents. Sky listened attentively, asking questions and making supportive noises.
As they talked, Rain felt grateful for his friend's unwavering support and enthusiasm. "Thanks for listening, Sky. You're the best"
Sky chuckled and said, "Anytime, Rainny boy. You know it. Now, let's sleep. Tomorrow, we have to shift to the dorms. I'm so excited!"
"Ok, bye Sky. Goodnight," Rain said, yawning.
"Goodnight, Rain. Sweet dreams," Sky replied, hanging up.
Rain smiled, feeling content and relaxed after their conversation. He snuggled under the blankets, his mind still whirling with thoughts of the handsome stranger and his brother's secret life. As he drifted off to sleep, he couldn't help but wonder what the future held for him and his loved ones.