𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐂. | Firstkhao

01

Somewhere in the rural slums of Thailand were two people running for their life. Bad versus good. Light vs dark. The downpour was so heavy that to be caught unaware meant being drenched to the skin. Each drop was as large as a cartoon tear and they fell like gravity had been turned up a notch. Every person able to run picked up their pace holding futile hands skyward to fend off the worst and the world was cast into more sombre tones.

Water washes over Ayan's skin so strongly that it feels as if he was in the flow of a river rather than a rain shower, one that leaves him standing yet lets him know that it is here to stay for a while. And so the only thing to do is to keep running away from the cops who're shooting at the two guys.

Yok launches with his gigantic body on top of the over flooding rubbish in the garbage, mixed in with laying boxes covering in the filth and most likely bugs. As the boy launched himself with the upper strength of the arms, yok was able to get over the brick red wall on to the other side. The gunshots in the distance were fired but missed the target.

Ayan does the same with his slender but much shorter body, using the legs as an extra push to slide on top of the wall.

Then a stinging pain hits Ayan where he trembled to the sight of his arm bleeding. The cops voice in the distance become louder, he had to get moving because this was survival. He wants to live.

"Aye!" Yok shouts in the discreet area that brought his attention to the left side. He snuck in quickly towards Yok. The two boys wearing hoodies soaking into their skin as if it were a part of them. No longer were it a oversized glory. The hair turn a darker colour, going flatter to the head. Their face dribbling with droplets of water. "You're bleeding." Yok said and Ayan looks over covering it with his hand.

"It's nothing. Just a scratch. We have to get moving." Ayan side tracks looking at the distance. Yok nods in agreement as he brought keys out with a rattling on the metallic sound. "I have somewhere to be. Stay at my apartment for today. Make sure to feed my cat."

"Tch." Ayan let's out as he takes the keys. "Where are you going, meeting your girlfriend?" He'd tease. Yok rolls his eyes as he nudged Ayan' sore arm, as Yok smirks. "None of your business Aye."

If you thought the rain was heavier before you'd be wrong. The rain began hailing down like it were a compound of tsunamis' in one. Ayan struggled riding the motorbike in such conditions, he could barely see through the helmet on the road; not only was it uncomfortable to ride in extremely thin clothing— he felt his injuring arm take a toll.

Thailand has its beauty anywhere, even the slums held a creative raw ethereal-ness to it. But what they don't tell you is how bad the government is. The poor get more poor. The rich get richer. The way of society and life truly bizarres Ayan, as well as being seen 'different' by not following the society 'norms' and acceptable values. It doesn't make sense and no one seems to fight for their freedom of rights to be whoever you want. These days schools such as Suppalo are discriminating against the protests as much as the police too.

The rural slums might not be in the best conditions, thank the government for that, but it's the best for survival you'll ever get.

Apartment building hovers still when Ayan parks nearby the motorbike. Soon after walking up to the third floor with the keys sway' by the fingers with Ayan unlocking the door. Going inside he was probably met with one of the messiest rooms ever. You suppose rooms really do describe their owners. Ayan's expression drops as he scans the apartment from head to toe. Clothes scattering on the floor in the bedroom, plates piling up in the sink. No source of light. The curtains are clothes everywhere. Rubbish laying by the ground and the shoes are in a disoriented pile with mismatching colours.

"He's such a pig." Ayan complains rolling off the black hoodie that is endlessly soaking on his body. Underneath the black shirt slips off the body. Ayan walks over to the bedroom, folding the clothes on the heating radiator. He looks at the bathroom making his way to it.

He stops when a meowing sound hit the edge of his ears. Ayan raises an eyebrow as he tilts his head at the cat scratching the fridge door. He smiles kneeling down on one knee, stroking the black and white cat. It had little mis-patching colours and greenish eyes. Who would've knew Yok was such a cat lover huh?

"You're a cute one." Ayan softly smiles. "You probably thought i was your owner huh. I'm sorry to disappoint you." He stands up opening the fridge. He saw the can of tuna and opens it for the cat. Leaving it on the floor for it to eat.

Ayan heads to the bathroom as he really needs a hot shower. If anything to make you feel better after being in a flooding rain with thin-material clothes on you, it would be a hot shower running down your body.

Soft sighs left Ayan's parting lips when the scorching water makes contact with his cold shivering body. He leans against the brick tiles wall with his arms leaning on to it. Head hung low letting the water fall down his back and black hair. When the water slides on the arm, a stung of pain erupts inside his body. Ayan biting the bottom lip, he clenched his eyes as a way of mentally preparing himself. Come on you can do it Ayan, he said to himself multiple times. Squeezing through the index and thumb in the wound— the bullet falls right off. With a gushing pain and blood running down the drain.

The front door unlocks with Akk coming inside his brother's apartment. He sighs out at the mess. It's tiring having Yok as your brother, at this point he can't take it seriously; Akk only cleaned it last week how did it become such a mess in just over a few days?

Akk sighs taking off his shoes. Then something hit him. Unfamiliar shoes and the shower is on. Who the hell was here? It can't be his brother because those shoes aren't his size. "Yok?" Akk quietly shouts out uncertain of what to believe. Though no response. he walks to the bedroom and saw unfamiliar clothes drying on the heating. This wasn't his brother. Someone else was in the home.

A solitary voice strikes Akk from behind causing him to stumble on the feet landing on the edge of the bed.
"You're not Yok. Who are you?"