Chapter 21: Almost Caught

Joong parked his car in front of the huge three storied luxury mansion in Sathorn, Bangkok.

Looking out the window at the large concrete establishment of the Nimtawat house…he couldn't help but feel in awe of the structure. It was all modern and sharp featured; a far cry from his own home that was more a laid back establishment than this house.

Looking beside him, he found Dunk still fast asleep in his passenger's seat, his soft breathing indicating that he was in a deep sleep.

Joong let out a sigh, weary about taking him inside the house.

What if Dunk's fathers were home? What would happen if they asked him why Dunk was so drunk and unconscious?

It wasn't like Joong actually knew how much the man had to drink before their encounter in the washroom. The last he had seen him, he had been on stage and Dunk had been at the far corner of the bar, drinking shots and what not with a few of their seniors.

Okay…so maybe he had some idea of what he had been drinking…

But the bright lights, paired with the requests from the guest that kept pouring in for him to sing a particular song…Joong had gotten distracted from time to time and had been unable to keep his eyes on Dunk the whole time.

Now, he debated on what to do next.

Leaning over, he placed his hand on Dunk's shoulder and shook him lightly. "Dunk…ai Dunk!" His voice was a whisper as he tried to wake him up. "Wake up. We're in front of your house. Come on…wake up already!"

But all his efforts were for nothing because Dunk simply turned his head to the other side, his hands swatting away his as if he were a fly, before the sound of soft snoring intensified once again.

"Shia oye!" Joong sighed, not knowing what else to do as he ran a hand through his hair, tousling it further.

But it was getting late at night and he had to return back to his home before his dad Off cut off his balls for stepping out of line so close to screwing up and getting caught throwing a party at their house.

"At least he didn't come into the room when you were there." Joong told Dunk then, knowing full well from the sound of his snores that the boy was nowhere close to listening to him.

"Well…I guess I'm going to have to carry you inside today." He sighed. "Consider it a favor! I'll get it back with interest later on."

He reached over and unlocked his seat belt before climbing out of his car and closing the door as softly as possible. Then he went around and opened the passenger's side door and found Dunk's innocent looking face fast asleep.

"You're cute when you're not cursing at me." He muttered under his breath, leaning down so he could look at his face more closely. "Look at you now…how adorable…those little plump lips really make me want to bite them."

But Dunk didn't even stir as he kept on mumbling to himself, and Joong knew that even though he looked like a tiny little kitten…Dunk was a lion with a kitten's head…or at least he weighed like one.

Leaning across from him, Joong went to set aside the seat belt, when he felt the warmth of Dunk's breath on his neck, startling him for a second.

Was it his imagination…or did Dunk's breath falter for a second there?

But when he looked up at his face, Dunk still appeared fast asleep.

'It must've been my imagination', Joong thought to himself as he placed his hands under Dunk's knees and behind his shoulders…and hoisted him up into his arms, bridal style.

"Look at you…snatching all the opportunities from my future girlfriend." Joong sighed irritated, as he adjusted Dunk's weight on his arms. "You're lucky you're cute…or I wouldn't have done this just for anyone."

But even as Joong brought him close to the doors to his house…he had forgotten one vital information…

"Shia! Ai Dunk! What's the code to your house?" Joong asked the boy in his arms as alarm began to set in.

But just like before, Dunk didn't even bother to answer. Instead, his arms tightened around Joong's shoulders and he snuggled closer to his body, snuggling his head in the crook of his neck as he fell back asleep.

"Fuck! What am I supposed to do now?" Joong muttered to himself once again, holding Dunk closer to his body, his arms tightening around the sleeping boy.

He didn't even have anyone's number and from what he had heard, Dunk's fathers' were very strict when it came to his sons. Would he be okay if he rang the doorbell and one of his father's came to open the door? Will they punish him for drinking and staying out late?

"Stupid!" He frowned at Dunk. "I'm tempted to just throw you here by the front door and see your parent's reaction when they find your drunken ass turned into a Popsicle tomorrow morning. But I'm not feeling so heartless tonight, so you get a free pass."

Letting out a huge sigh, Joong adjusted his weight while lifting up his knee to support Dunk…and rang the doorbell.

For some reason, he felt his heart thud in his chest as he anticipated meeting with Dunk's parents. What was he going to say to them? How was he going to explain to them about Dunk? Would they think he was the one who got him drunk and passed out?

But as he was busy debating all of the possibilities inside his head, the door to the house opened suddenly, and out came Gemini, Dunk's youngest brother.

For a moment, Joong just started at him, startled by the uncanny resemblance, but when he saw Gemini looking at him to Dunk, and then back to him once again, a perplexed look on his face, Joong rushed to give him an explanation.

"It's not…you see…the club..drunk…Dunk…I mean…"

"Hia Dunk got drunk at the club and you're sending him off?" Gemini offered, seeing as P'Joong was struggling with his words. "Why don't you hurry up and get him inside? Our father's are about to reach home as well. It'll be better if they don't find you here when they arrive."

"Good idea." Joong sighed; as he made his way inside the house as Gemini held the door wide open for him.

The inside of the house was just as modern and splendid as the outside, and when Joong noticed the couches in the living room, he rushed towards them and gently placed Dunk on one of them, adjusting the cushions behind his neck carefully.

After he had placed Dunk on the sofa, he stood up straight and stretched his arms before reaching behind him to massage his back.

"Heavy, isn't he?" Gemini smirked. "Just leave him here. He'll be fine."

"Umm…" Joong nodded, before sighing. "I don't think he had much to eat. I only saw him drinking. Make sure he eats something, or he'll have a really bad hangover tomorrow."

"La?" Gemini raised his eyebrows at Joong with open interest. "You seem to be very worried about my Hia. Are you one of his friends? I've never heard him mention you before."

"Pao…I'm a…classmate." Joong replied, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. "It's getting late. I have to go now. Take care…good night."

"Goodnight, P'Joong." Gemini walked him to the door. "Have a safe trip back home."

"Sure."

With that, Joong all but ran towards his car, not even bothering to turn around.

Gemini closed the door with a smirk before turning back to his brother on the couch. "How much longer are you going to pretend to be asleep?"

 Dunk opened his eyes a fraction, knowing that there was no point in pretending with Gemini. He always knew when one of them was bluffing.

"How long have you known that I was awake?" Dunk asked, his voice hoarse from unuse as he sat up slowly, rubbing at his tired eyes.

"Ever since I saw you in that boy's arms." Gemini grinned. "He looks good, doesn't he? Is he taken?"

"Idiot! I thought you already had a boyfriend!" Dunk snapped.

"And I thought you hated his guts." Gemini mocked. "Look at you now…getting all defensive about the boy."

"He's the same age as me, stop calling him 'boy'," Dunk frowned, wondering why he kept on defending Joong in the first place.

"Look at that…maybe I should call him boy-friend, instead."

Dunk picked up the cushion at his back and threw it at Gemini, who avoided it with a laugh…but someone else caught the cushion mid-air, making both Gemini and Dunk snap their attention towards the door.

"What are you two doing playing around?" Tay asked his eldest and youngest with a frown, moving the cushion away from his face. "And where is Phuwin?"

Dunk and Gemini gave each other wide-eyed stares before Dunk scrambled to get out of the couch and stand on his own two feet without toppling over. If his dad knew that he was drunk…he'd be grounded for a month and his life would be living hell.

"Phuwin…had a show tonight, Dad," Gemini answered meekly. "He should be back any minute now."

"Hmm…" Their dad Tay looked thoughtful as he neared the couch and Dunk immediately went to stand beside Gemini, so that he wouldn't be able to sniff the alcohol on him.

Tay frowned at Dunk, but didn't say anything as he continued towards the couch and placed the cushion back in its place. Fortunately for them, Tay appeared to be distracted tonight, probably with thoughts about work, so he didn't pay much attention as he went to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water.

"Dunk? Gem?" Pa New arrived just at the right moment to the kid's relief. "What happened? Why are you two standing like someone is holding you at gunpoint?"

Both of them looked awkwardly at Tay, and a small smile spread on Newwie's face as he saw his kid's expression. "Oh? That? Don't worry about it. Your dad is just tired from work. Did Phuwin return yet?"

"Pao, Khab." The two of them answered at the same time.

"Mai pen rai." New sighed, placing his briefcase on the couch and heading closer to his boys. "You two had dinner yet? If you did, then go back to your rooms and tell Phuwin to get in through the back door. It's a good thing your dad is distracted. Don't let him get scolded by your dad."

"Okay, khab, Pa." Dunk smiled, about to turn around to go to his room. Even though he hadn't had dinner, he was still drunk and dinner was the last thing on his mind.

"Oh, and Dunk?"

Dunk turned towards his Pa, frowning as he called him just before he placed his feet on the staircase. "Khab?"

"Make sure to shower before bed." Newwie sighed. "You reek of alcohol and I'm sure the neighbors can smell it too."

Shit! That was a close call! Dunk thought to himself as he turned and left, heading to his room as fast as he could.