He heard about the underground racing and underground fighting rings and gambling. He told Porsche he didn't like it, that they were dangerous, but Porsche just laughed. He said he would be extra careful and that his friends got his back.
Porchay was still worried, for both Porsche and Vegas.
Then he saw him again, alone, on a rainy day at 14 years old.
The rain was pouring like vengeance that day. Porchay was with his friends, waiting for the bus to come, when a sleek car slowed down. Porchay just had this uneasy feeling in his gut that he knew the owner. When the handsome car stopped and the window rolled down, came the more handsome face of the owner. And he was just like Chay predicted. "Chay, waiting for the bus? Come, Phi will drive you home?"
Chay was unsure. He suddenly remembered these dreams that he was having, the not-so-child-like dream that got him to wash his underwear in the middle of dawn. Now he was staring at the very man who was smiling at him at the moment, which could make him burst out in flame. "That's ok, Phi. I'll just wait for the bus with my friends," he replied, giving Vegas an awkward smile.
"Oh, come on, what are you shy about? I have seen you butt naked ..."
"Phi!" Porchay squeaked a high pitch, stopping Vegas. Chay could see his unhidden smile very well but at least he stopped. His friends looked at him weirdly. "He's my phi. He knew he knew me since I was little," he emphasized with his fingers, "Very little."
There was a strange note that Porchay just couldn't get when Vegas said, "Yeah, I'm his phi." He gave his friends that charming toothy smile that made his friends immediately stop whatever it was that was in their minds. But Porchay still needed to clarify. Calling Vegas his phi seemed ... something. "He's Macau's older brother."
One of his friends said this spontaneously, "He doesn't look like Macau."
He gave the guy a sour look. "You think Porsche and I look alike?" He could hear Vegas laugh again.
"Come on, Chay. Phi didn't get all day! Sorry, but Phi can't take all of you home at once. You guys can take a taxi," he said while giving money that was more than enough for the younger teenagers to take a cab individually. All of Porchay's friends were happily bowing their gratitude.
Reluctantly, Porchay got inside the car and waved his friends goodbye. The car smelled like the owner. Something cool with a little hint of mint. Porchay's young mind didn't know what to call it, he just knew it was expensive.
He took time to glance all over, including to the long veiny fingers that grabbed the steering wheel. It was accessorized by beautiful rings with complex styles and a thick gold bracelet with a round coin pendant. It bore the symbol of his family crest. The Theerapanyakun was that rich.
The ride was silent at first. There was only the sound of a song between them. A female singer and Porchay thought she sounded very nice and the songs went well with the rain.
"Macau asked about you several times," Vegas attempted to make small talk.
"Yeah, he sometimes messages me. We gamed together and sometimes hung out too. With them. My friends. That's why they know Macau." His mind was so fried right now, that was the reason why his answer was choppy and stammered. He licked his lips nervously more than enough. Vegas just nodded along.
"Why don't you come to our house? We have a good gaming system, you know that."
Yeah, he indeed knew that. Porsche took him to Macau's birthday party twice and instead of enjoying the lavish party, Macau and Porchay spent the night gaming on both occasions. Macau was bored with that kind of party and Porchay didn't know what to do with it. Perfect company.
Macau was rich but he was no snob, just like his brother. Porchay's family was no country bumpkin, they are quite well off. But compared to the Theerapanyakuns, they were a few levels lower. They were not in the level of buying Gucci T-shirt as everyday clothes.
Macau didn't hesitate to befriend Porchay's friends, but the other way around was not good as Macau's friends looked at him like he was a peasant that Macau picked from the side of the road. He heard both Porsche and Vegas were raging mad because of it. So that was probably why Macau spent more time with Porchay's friends instead of his own clique.
Vegas stopped at an ice cream shop. He encouraged Porchay to follow him with his gesture. Porchay followed reluctantly.
"Still chocolate mint flavor?" asked the older one in front of the counter, his fingers were typing something on his phone. When Porchay didn't answer, he snapped his head and looked Porchay in the eye. Porchay nodded in tiny. Vegas gave him his knee-weaking smile. "Anything else?" He shook his head. "Your hia said you often you often steal his rocky road."
Porchay wanted to kill his hia. "It's only because there is nothing else," he said in a tiny voice.
"I like dark chocolate one," Vegas said. "But I don't mind caramel coconut."
Porchay nodded, confused about how to reply to that one.
Vegas bought the ice creams in buckets and paid for them with his card before ushering Porchay again to his car.
The quietness was back and so were the songs. Hesitated at first, Porchay asked, "Who is this?" he pointed to the stereo system.
"A girl named Niki. She is based in LA."
"She is very good. I'll put her on my Spotify later."
Vegas nodded while smiling, seemingly so happy that Porchay shared the same interest in music.
When they finally arrived in front of Porchay's gate, the rain morphed into a bearable drizzle. Vegas handed all of the ice cream, including the ones he said he liked, to Porchay. When Porchay questioned this, he said, "Try them. Maybe then they become your new favorite."
They waved goodbye and Porchay watched until it disappeared before walking into his house. He put the ice creams in the fridge, lingering more on the dark chocolate and caramel coconut. He decided to taste them, putting them in a bowl and taking them with him in front of the TV.
It took a while for his tongue to like the dark chocolate one, but he fell in love instantly with the caramel coconut. It smelled suspiciously the same as his body wash and shampoo (his mom bought them in pairs and as Porchay loved them, he didn't protest), but the taste was strangely heavenly. The dark chocolate had a hint of bitter-sweet taste but it was so smooth, reminded him of Vegas himself.
Porsche was home at eight pm, instantly questioning Chay about the ice cream. "Oh, Phi Vegas bought them for me. He was passing by near my school and took me to an ice cream shop."
Porsche scrunched up his face. "So, that was why he was a bit late."
"Late for what?"
"Oh, he didn't tell you? He was going to England for school today. I just got back from the airport, sending him off."
Porchay was stunned but didn't say anything but a quiet, "Oh."
He knew he had no right to feel angry, but he did.
He then saw Vegas again when he was eighteen years old when his hia took him to the illegal bike race.
"Porchay!", his hia shouted, "Don't go anywhere too far. It's not safe."
When he turned his back to reply, his eyes found that sharp black eyes again. It rendered him to stupid, as all he could do was gapping his mouth. He didn't know what to say when the older one greeted him with that same charming smile, only it became ridiculously more charming because now Vegas wore longer hair. "Porchay," with his raspy cool voice.
He waied politely, suddenly remembering his manner, and the only thing he could say was, "Phi."
Prologue: Meraki
Start from the beginning
