43: Real Story

PORSCHE

"What do you mean?" 

"The reign of the main clan is about to end. Don't you know, Porsche?" 

I stared in disbelief at Vegas. His expression didn't even bat an eye, but his eyes were filled with many difficult-to-read stories. And his previous sentence clearly meant something. 

Vegas glared at me for a moment, before his eyes settled for a calmer gaze. "Ever heard of the saying, 'a mirror to your face, a prickle to your nape'?" 

My ears immediately shoot up on those words of his. Should I believe everything he will say from here forward? 

"If you got something to say, spill it out now." 

"I'm just telling you what you wanted to know." Vegas cunningly said, and I found myself tongue-tied, as the piled-up questions inside my mind immediately backed up. 

"Was asking Pete for answers, helped?" 

His seemingly careless words and expressions, his tone was filled with dominance which immediately made me realize how good this person is at negotiation. Because his demeanor doesn't make me feel uncomfortable. Instead, it made me trade for something that I wanted. 

I remained silent and hesitated to tell Vegas. 

"The main family, how do you see them in your eyes, Porsche? A flawless benefactor with a kind heart just like Pete, huh?" Vegas scuffed. "To be honest they shouldn't be labeled as mafia. They deserve to be a 

leader in the government 'coz they are fucking good at manipulating people." He added, immediately sparking my interest. 

"What do you mean?" I said furiously. 

"Good public figure, a smart-cookie and with good manners, any naive shallow person will be easily swayed by that. But it was a drag that he won't be able to have an heir, because all of his sons are impaired. One is crazy, the other two are gays." 

"But Khun Korn already accepted Kinn and I." I protested, as I reckon what Vegas said. But the latter only laughed in reply. 

"Do you really think that's the case, Porsche? Do you even have a clue how my mother died?" 

"How would you know?" I said in annoyance. 

"Because she was killed by Agong and Pae." 

"Could you stop beating around the bush? Tell me directly."

"My grandparents didn't like my mother. Who would want their son to marry a commoner like my mother? But with Uncle Korn they were different. They gave him freedom whoever he wanted to marry, high profile or not. Leaving my dad with nothing but anger and frustrations." 

"That's your mom we're talking about." I said when I noticed Vegas was being rude to his mother. 

"Yeah she is. But in Agong's eyes she is nothing. Like a piece of trash waiting to be thrown away. And now that they've already had us, it was all the same. Agong only sees me like a rotten dog, but when it comes to Kinn, he is all over him." Vegas irked, tightening his grip on the steering wheel. 

"You sound jealous to me." I bluntly said. 

"Say whatever you want. But I was just as intrigued as you, Porsche. I was curious as to how my mother died. Some claimed she committed suicide, while others claimed it was because of the enemy company. But it could be worse," Vegas paused. "I've been assisting Khet's mother through Nop, to help them escape until Khet recovers and would be able to tell everything about the main family's background. But I'm afraid I'm running late." 

"W-what do you mean? Running late? For what?" 

"I held Pete as a prisoner for days, so they probably have a clue by now." 

I swallowed my saliva with a stiff neck, feeling very uneasy in this situation. Vegas actually tricked me into killing myself. I began to wonder what he was thinking in his heart right now. It is more complex than humans!

"At first this was only purely for revenge. Because the main family gave me, and my brother a hard time. Dad hate me, and they made us lose my mother. But now, it wasn't just for that anymore. I'll prove Pete too, whom he should really trust." 

"Hell! Have you thought this through that much already?" 

"What about you? What do you wanna know?" Vegas raised an eyebrow at me as his icy gaze met mine. 

Pete, if you love Vegas, your taste is weird. 

"My parents." 

"Ah! The Kittisawat. About ten years ago, there's this hot shot sport's car importing company that's well known to everyone. Until one day, the company's president and his wife were killed by a car accident. It was on front page news for only a day, and then vanished the next day as if nothing had happened." 

My face immediately tensed as my past unravelled before me again. 

"Both of their funerals were simple. Following that, the company's management began to spark a turmoil. There was strife among their relatives until they eventually fell apart, with the two heirs lacking the power to intervene because they were underage. So, everything fell into the hands of relatives on the father's side, who took turns being the judges until they were finally unable to handle it and the company got bankrupt." 

"How far do you know?" I asked firmly. 

It only shows that it wasn't solely because my parents were gone, but also their partner company has something to do with its bankruptcy.

How the fuck Vegas knows a lot about my parent's affairs better than me?

"Just enough." 

"Fuck it! Vegas!" I slammed into him. 

Why is my heart racing when I think about my parents? The pain remains the same, but it appears that the wound will become deeper and deeper as the days pass.

"Have you met your relatives on your mom's side?" 

"We're not close." 

"But have you ever met them?" Vegas continued. 

"I did, but it was already years ago. I'm probably just a kid that time. And I'm only close to my relatives on my father's side." 

"Strange. Neither of you or your brother met them." Vegas sneered. 

"Cut the bullshit now Vegas. If you got something to say, spill the fuck out!" I said in irritation. 

What is the significance of referring to relatives on the mother's side? I only know my Aunt Dao, whom my mother used to take me to play with when I was a child. However after the incident, no one even took us in. Though I didn't care that much coz I don't wanna burden anyone with us. 

"I'm not quite sure." 

"Speak." I said sternly. And if looks could kill, he might already be dead by now.

"Hmm. Well, I know that the Teerapanyakun family has three children. Uncle Korn, my Dad and Gow Kim."

"Gow Kim?" I asked in pique, because Kinn never told me about that person.

"Gow Kim got married a long time ago and moved to Switzerland. That person wasn't close to any of their grandchildren. And it was New Year's Eve that time so..."

"So, what is this all about?" Fuck! This bastard is a damn storyteller. Runs in the blood, I guess.

"Gow Kim was the vice president of the company at that time, but he was so discreet that he only let a few properties named after him."

"And what does Gow Kim have to do with my parents?"

"Nothing."

"Damn it Vegas! Stop messing with me!" I yelled in annoyance.

"No, listen first."

"I'm already listening, aren't I?!" I exclaimed and the bastard chuckled.

You're a lucky bastard. Wait till my patience left of my body, I'll fucking wash out that face of yours in this world.

"You already knew that Agong only has three children. But on his last will and testament, his properties were divided into four.

"And how the hell will that last will connected with my family?

"But I think I know where the fourth part is."

"What the hell are you even talking about, Vegas?" I shook my head towards Vegas.

My mind was already messed up about how the hell would I be able to know the truth behind my parents death, and this bastard is not even a bit helping.

"I overheard my father's conversation with his attorney."

"Wow. What a surprise." I said sarcastically.

"Come on. I'm just giving you an idea on who you are trying to mess with."

"I know. But do you have to be this wishy washy?" I slammed.

"Mafia family. It may appear cool and luxurious on the outside, but once you're in, you'll die just to get out."

"Huh? Have you swallowed a book of Philosophy or something?"

Damn! I wanna call Pete so this bastard will shut up. How can he even manage to talk with this piece of shit?

"What's even the point of being inside that circle?" Vegas muttered out of the blue, looking at the people who were passing by his car.

"Man, you need some help." I said, as I scanned Vegas from head to toe. The bastard only gave me a look. And I can hear what he was trying to say just by the looks of it.

Vegas looked away from me and pulled out his phone. His gesture almost shocked me because it was so sudden, but immediately came to my senses when he dialed on the phone.

(Fuck, Vegas. Such a cliffhanger 😤)

"I'm already here outside. Can I come up?" Vegas paused, as he let the other line talk."On the left side? Alright." Vegas answered before hanging up the phone.

"I don't even know if we'll be able to get something from him."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Now you are telling me!?

"He's mentally unstable. I tried to help him, but we couldn't take him to the hospital. It's too risky."

Vegas rang the bell and the gate of the suburbs opened. I'm not just anxious with his gesture, but also the fact that this place is new to me. As if it was the slumps on the next level. We did live in the same environment before, but this was way different.

"Hey, what're you tense for? I've been coming here for a long time now. Don't worry." Vegas said, moving out of the car, and beckoned me to follow.

Fuck! This bastard really is restless!

Vegas started his tracks and I closely tagged on his back. This community was quite big, as a bunch of people and children ran across each other. Vegas uses his arm to shield me from time to time, as people continue to crash with each other.

"After you." Vegas said to me, as he brushed off the tarpaulin covering the way in. I was hesitant at first, but eventually went in.

"Where are we heading?"

My gaze wandered in the confined space. There was only a small hallway, and the state of the house was so wrecked, I almost felt pity on the people who lived in it.

Vegas roamed his gaze around, as if he was a spinning top. He didn't appear to be confident at all. Why don't you come with your bodyguard instead?

"Shit! I should have just taken Nop with me."

We reached the room that Vegas was trying to find for a long time. And immediately, an old woman's voice rang out.

"Nop? Is that you?" She said, as she narrowed her eyes towards us.

"She's-" I turned to Vegas.

"Khet's mother." Vegas said. And the woman almost sank on the floor in terror.

"P-please, don't hurt us."

My eyes widened as I watched the scene in front of me. I gave Vegas a glance, but he was too preoccupied with the terrified lady.

"Auntie, we're not here to hurt you." I muttered, before lending my hands towards the old lady, beckoning her to get up.

"Nop's not here today. So, I came instead." Vegas said.

"Y-you're not here to hurt us?" She said in a trembling voice.

"Yes." Vegas said with indifferent expression, before eventually softening his voice. "How are you?"

"You promise?"

"Yes. Nop asked me to buy this too." Vegas took the pills out of his pocket and gave them to the auntie. The expression on the woman's face eventually mellowed as she started to trust Vegas.

"Why didn't Nop come today?" Auntie grabbed her own clothes and wiped tears off her face.

"He's busy. Can we see him now?" Vegas shortly said.

The lady was speechless for a moment before letting out a deep sigh. She slowly opened the door to the room and eventually beckoned us in.

"Khet? Khet are you already awake son?" Auntie said, and Vegas came in.

"M-ma? Khun Kan! Khun Kan!" The unknown man exclaimed as soon as Vegas entered. 

I was intrigued by what the man saw in Vegas, and my foot automatically came in. A middle-aged man stood in front of me, holding a fork and with a terrified expression on his face. He was dressed in only his pants and a ripped t-shirt. The man was terrified, and instinctively moved backwards as soon as he got a glimpse of my face.

"Khun Pat! Khun Pat!"

"Khet! No! They're not them! Calm down." Auntie went in to restrain the man down.

"I didn't mean to. I didn't- Khun Pat! Khun Phueng! I'm sorry. Forgive me." 

His body trembled as his head bowed to the ground. When I heard the stranger say both of my parents' names, my heart almost jumped right off my chest as anxiety swept through my body. I approached him, grabbed both of his arms, and shook the latter in disbelief.

"How do you know my parents? Answer me!"

"Porsche! Porsche!" Vegas came in and pulled me from behind. As for this man's mother, she hurriedly shielded her son from me.

"Don't hurt him! Please! He can't do anything anymore, please."

"Porsche, calm down." Vegas successfully diverted my attention away from the man. And when my gaze turned to the latter, I saw him crying until his tears poured down on the floor.

"Porsche, calm down. He was shot in the head, and part of his brain was fried. It'll take some time to get him fully recovered. "

"Khun Korn ordered not to speak, I will not speak! I won't speak!" He lifted his head from the floor and slapped himself in his mouth so hard several times that I had to turn my gaze away.

"Khun Phat, I was wrong, I didn't mean to. Khun Korn, I didn't mean to, I didn't mean to."

I bit my lip tightly, as I tried to hold back the pain bulging inside my chest.

"That's enough Khet. Here take this." Auntie grabbed some sleeping pills and gave it to the man. The latter was still shaking, before eventually following his mother and drinking the pills.

Auntie gave us a look. "You guys should head out first."

I was in a state of shock, and Vegas grabbed me by my side to shake me awake.

"Porsche! Porsche!"

"My parents. It wasn't really an accident." Tears streamed down my cheeks as I said. I wanted to be strong, and to be able to overcome this pain that's been haunting me, but I just I just can't.

"I think we should head home first."

"I got a feeling that it wasn't an accident at all. I didn't mean to blame anyone but I just wanted to know the truth." I muttered through gasps.

Vegas can only sigh on my gesture. "We both wanted to know a lot of things from him. But with his current

condition, we have to be patient, Porsche." Vegas said in utmost care, guiding me towards the car.

"Let's just go." I said, grasping the sides of my arm.

Vegas then took out his wallet, grabbed a pile of thousands and walked towards Khet's mother. "If you need something, just call Nop."

The latter squatted down, put the money in the lady's hand and we both bid our goodbye.

"What's next?" Vegas asked me, but I was so down on the dumps I can't manage to even reply to the conversation.

"Khun Korn killed my parents." I muttered unconsciously as we both made our way home.

"We're still not quite sure if he's really telling the truth. Nop said that he's still trying to put everything up together, but it was far from anything."

I got a strong feeling that my parents didn't die accidentally. And uttering their names loud and clearly only means he knows something.

"Can you take me again tomorrow? I wanna try to talk to him again."

"I know you wanted the truth that much, but I suggest you should try another way, Porsche. Because this one might take too much of your time." Vegas iterated, as his foot stepped on the gas. He was constantly checking the time on his watch, but I couldn't care less.

Having Kinn in my life was a dream for me.

But if it's true that the main family was involved in my parents' death, should I still love him? Wouldn't that be disrespectful for my late parents? Or should I just walk away and leave Kinn?

I've already told myself that beside my family, Kinn was the one I cherished the most. I wanna wake up beside him, eat beside him. Be with him through ups and downs but would that love be able to erase the things that happened in the past?

Fuck! I don't know anymore.

"Porsche, I'll be right back." Vegas said to me, before he went out of the car.

I was silent the whole drive, and when I snapped out of my trance, we're already in the front of a southern restaurant. Vegas took a while, and I only slumped my head back on the seat.

Minutes passed, and the bastard was back with a cheerful face.

"He's hungry. Isn't he?" I muttered to myself. Dang! I haven't eaten anything all day. But that curry clearly wasn't for me.

"Here." As soon as Vegas came in the car, he put those curries on my lap.

"Not hungry." I was, but damn I'm way confused right now.

"I didn't say that's for you. It's for Pete." Vegas irked.

I held up the bag of curry and looked at about ten bags of rice. "Does he like this that much?"

"A lot. But you can't tell him that I bought it. If he knows it's from me, he'll just throw it away." Vegas said in a slight protest, before maneuvering the car away.

"Ahh. So that's why you're in a hurry. Afraid the shop will close?" I teased him, but Vegas was unfazed.

"Are we going again at the same time tomorrow?"

The bastard changed the topic, and I can only shrug in reply. I was hesitant to answer. Because I still can't figure out what to believe and not.

"Do you think that man, Khet was involved in the death of my parents?"

"Eight years ago, the main family and the sub-family almost purged out their bodyguards."Vegas uttered,

"Some survived, but most of them died due to the rampage. P'Chan has always been there like a drone, watching over the main and sub-families' movements." The latter added, and I can feel my temples pulsing.

Fuck! My head hurts.

"Alright. That's enough for now. But if you really want to know the truth, you must prepare yourself, Porsche."

Vegas gave me a look of sympathy, before we continued on our way. Vegas drove me to the university where I parked my motorcycle. I got out of his car, and immediately after he reminded me not to forget about the curry rice for Pete, he left.

A cool breeze blows against my face on the way home, reminding me of the past. I was just a regular student at the Faculty of Sports Science. I went to school in the morning and worked for our family's expenses in the evening.

We didn't always have it easy, but we made it day by day. It made me realize how simple our lives were before, and how different they are now. And I missed being able to live without anything to fear about.

I reached the main family's home, parked my motorbike to the same spot, and made my way inside. I was about to head straight to Pete's room to give his lover boy's offering but was immediately halted by a familiar voice.

"Porsche, where are you going?" It was Khun Korn, with his usual calm expression. "Have you already eaten my son?" He added.

I was only standing still, contemplating if I would be able to act normal after all the information I absorbed this day.

"Was that your dinner?" Khun Korn muttered again, and I only walked towards the table to place the bag of curry and give him a short reply.

"It was for Pete." I tried to adjust my tone of voice. Even though Vegas told me we're not completely sure if Khet was telling the truth, Khun Korn may at least be responsible for my parents' deaths.

"Sit down son. Would you like some bird's nest?" Khun Korn, along with P'Chan sat across the dining table with a pile of documents on the side.

"No. Thank you." I sat quietly on the opposite side of Khun Korn.

"Wait a minute, I heard that Kinn has been working hard lately. Chan, prepare some soup for Kinn." Khun Korn instructed, before turning his gaze towards me,

"Could you just bring this to Kinn for me, Porsche?"

I nod in reply.

I took my time looking at Khun Korn. On the outside, he appears to be a mature individual. His face was covered in gleaming eyes, and a friendly smile. When a problem arises, he frequently uses words that make me calm down and surrender. He was always able to make me believe in the main family, and was the linchpin that kept me from leaving. I couldn't even imagine him being a ruthless man. But if he was truly involved, I don't even know how to react.

"Does Dad like bird's nest too, just like my father?" I said in a low voice.

His hand that was about to scoop the bird's nest came to a halt. For a brief moment, his face was frozen, before he gazed back at me with the same smile.

"I do. It's good for nourishing the body." Khun Korn uttered, and at the same time P'Chan had already finished preparing the soup and placed it in front of me.

"Thanks Dad. I'll bring this to Kinn upstairs."

I picked up the cup and walked out of the dining room immediately. Just a single glance of his expressive gaze already reinforced the answer in my mind.

I walked slowly, trying to maintain as much control on my emotions as possible. Something in my mind was seriously clouding my feelings. But just a glimpse of Kinn's face, every pain will alleviate away.

I entered Kinn's room. And noticed how dark the room was. I couldn't see anything, so I followed the small source of light until I came across Kinn's silhouette.

"Why didn't you open the light?" I asked him, but the bastard was silent.

I made my way in further, and as soon as the light went on, I saw Kinn sitting on his back, facing the balcony. "What are you doing?"

"Where have you been?" Kinn asked coldly. And I can feel the atmosphere around us getting heavier and heavier.

"Mall." I replied shortly. Hiding my tensing feet and difficulty of breathing.

"Where have you been, Porsche?" Kinn repeated. And this time with a whole lot of conviction, and threat.

"I already told you, from the mall."

"Don't make me ask you again, Porsche."

I bit my lip tightly towards Kinn. Because based on the first question and Kinn's demeanor, I know he already knows the answer.

"Were you following me again?"

"That's not the right answer, Porsche." Kinn replied shortly. And I know at this moment, he won't let anything pass him again.

"Let's just talk about this tom-"

"Where did you go with him!?" Kinn brawled, standing up from where he was sitting and faced me.

I was startled by how he acted. But I was too preoccupied with the thought about my parents to even react. 

"Then why didn't you ask your spy, huh?"

"If they were smart, and even caught up with Vegas, I wouldn't be asking you this now." Kinn didn't even bat an eye while questioning me. I tried to avoid his gaze, but that gesture only sparked his anger.

"Don't you dare walk away from me, Porsche!" Kinn smashed the table in full force, echoing inside his room.

"Why do you have to overreact all the time!?" I shouted towards Kinn, trying my best to hide my fear, but my voice wasn't even cooperating.

"And what the hell do you think you are doing, Porsche!?"

"I'm not doing anything wrong Kinn! What the fuck!"

"Then why do you have to be with Vegas!? Am I not enough!? I'm already giving you all that you wanted! Wasn't that enough for you!?" Kinn slammed, brushing away all the things on his table.

"What I want is the truth Kinn! The truth." I gasped, holding tightly on the hem of my shirt as I tried to keep my balance.

"What truth!? I already told you about how the main family was trying to apprehend the second family. What else do you want to know!?" Kinn was outraged. Staring directly into my eyes, as if it was the first day that we met.

"If you told me the truth in the first place, I wouldn't even come up with this!" I fought back, with tears streaming down my cheeks.

"I already told you what I know, Porsche! Do you even have a clue what you are doing now!? How come you put your trust in him!?"

"Well, I don't have a choice, Kinn!"

"No, you shouldn't! Because the person you chose to believe was the one who harmed you!"