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Mother and Tong are blackmailing Ming into doing what they want, or the information about him being gay and having a boyfriend will somehow reach his father. But Ming isn't afraid of this. He knows that the woman never truly understood his father the way he did, never saw the look in his eyes when he looked at his younger brothers, happy with their partners. She thought he hated them, that they disgusted him. But Ming knew the truth. His father always loved them and envied them with all his heart.
Tankhun was never lucky enough to have a partner who loved him as much as Porsche loved Kinn, or someone who looked at him like Chay looked at Kim, or someone as hopelessly wrapped around his finger as Pete was around Vegas. Tankhun, after years of therapy, eventually left the Therapanyakul family, started his own family with... his father's friend's daughter. It was a simple transaction.
Tankhun never had to do anything, especially nothing big. Kinn was always just an arm's reach away, Porsche was always available by phone, Chay always showed up unannounced to spoil him and his children, and Pete sent gifts every anniversary. Despite leaving the illegal, underground world, he never fully left it behind. His companies ran themselves, and Tankhun, under the guise of important matters, still sat in his now-office, watching dramas.
Time passed, and he distanced himself again from the world. He tried, he did everything he could to reach out to Ming, his beloved boy, when rumors reached him that his partner had disappeared (he sent a request to Kim to look into it and, if possible, find Joe). He tried to comfort his son, but Ming shut himself off. Khun knew this too well; sometimes it was for the best, the safest. So, he allowed it, but still placed Kim's assistant near him to look after his well-being and safety.
When he saw Ming, back in the family home, with a closed, tight expression and eyes full of anger, he knew something was going on. Regardless of everything, he always chose his family. Even if his wife was his family, and Tong was his daughter's husband, they were not his blood, not his children, he always knew he would sacrifice everything for those two incredible treasures of the world. That was the only reason he hadn't gotten rid of his wife years ago – the awful, petty, envious woman, but she gave him his two little treasures.
"Dad, I'm seeing a man now. His name is Joe," his son said, not even waiting for him to join him downstairs. He was stubborn, and Khun loved that about him.
He placed his hand on his shoulder, squeezing it gently.
"Okay, you should introduce him to me. Is that all?"
He asked, looking around. His wife was sitting with her lips tightly pressed together, Tong looming over her like a shadow. Khun knew he married his wonderful daughter for money, and that was why he never gave him any. If he truly loved her, he would love her with nothing. If he didn't love her, he wouldn’t love her even if she was covered in gold. That's how he saw it.
He returned his gaze to Ming, who seemed to shrink under his stare. He pulled back, diminished. Khun remembered when this boy used to sit on his lap, forcing him to watch his favorite cartoon over and over again, and he had agreed to it. Now he saw this, saw something he never wanted to see in the eyes of someone so close to him. Fear.
"Arrange a meeting."
He said.
"We'll discuss the timing."
He continued, guiding Ming up the stairs to the upper floor, straight to his office. The boy, now a man, didn't oppose him. He submitted without a word of protest to Khun's manipulating hands.
When they finally reached the office, and the soundproof doors closed behind them, Ming froze. Khun feared the fear that paralyzed his child. His first son, platinum.
"So... Is this the same Joe you've mourned for two years?"
He asked casually. Ming flinched again. He didn’t answer.
"Ming. If there’s one thing you can be sure of in this life, it’s that I love you and your siblings above all else, and I will never do anything to hurt you. So, back to the topic, tell me about him. He must be an interesting guy if he puts up with you."
He ruffled Ming's hair, to which the younger man scoffed, quickly trying to fix it.
"It’s more complicated..."
He said after a moment. Khun poured both of them a glass of whiskey from the bottle he kept in the office, took a packet of chips from his desk and opened it, placing it on the edge of the desk. He pulled his chair out from behind the desk and set it opposite the other one. Sitting in it, he gestured for Ming to take the chair he should sit in. Ming did so obediently.
"Life is complicated. Surprise me."
He said with a gentle smile.
He still remembered Kinn and Porsche's story, the situation with the disagreement, the kidnapping, the beating, the shooting, and finally the confession of love. If that wasn’t complicated, then Pete’s story was definitely another good example: infiltration, capture, torture, kidnapping, falling in love... Kim and Chay didn’t have a peaceful story either. In fact, no one in their family had an uncomplicated love life... Well, maybe it’s a curse.
"It’s a different Joe... but the same."
He finally spoke, to which Khun raised only one eyebrow, silently urging him to elaborate.
"It's Joe, his soul... Memories? He remembers everything that happened before, but... It's not his body, it's someone else's, I think... He took over this body after the previous occupant's death and... Spent two years in a coma. I don't know, Father... It’s... "
"Complicated."
Khun interrupted him. He nodded.
"You know the story of our family, you know who we are and where we come from. Peaceful love and easy marriages are not meant for us... But it’s always worth it."
He said with a smile, tapping his glass against Ming's.
"Bring me this boy, or I don't know, take me to meet him. It could be interesting."
Ming chuckled lightly, imagining Joe’s reaction.
"Father..."
He began again, considering his options. Khun gestured for him to continue.
"P'Tong and I are being threatened. They say they'll expose our relationship if I don’t give him money to pay off a debt. He even removed his name from the last movie they worked on, just to annoy me... I... I love Joe, Father. I want to make him happy."
"Well said!"
The elder agreed. He stood up, placing his empty glass on the desk without paying attention to the mess. He walked towards the exit door.
"Move it. It’s almost evening; it would be rude to visit him too late."
Ming smiled. He loved his father just like this, wild and uncontrollable, as he was when he was a little boy. Later... they had drifted apart, but he always kept those memories close to his heart.
Outside, a car was already waiting with Assistant Kim by the door. He bowed respectfully to both of them. Khun entered the car first.
"Take us to the boy’s house."
He instructed. Ming blushed slightly. No one had ever referred to Joe as his boy. It was... a pleasant experience.