Under My Protection

Chapter 10

It had been three weeks since Rain's date with Amara and he was hoping since he hadn't heard from his dad, that it might be the only date he'd have to endure. Rain was begrudgingly thankful to his father because he had found a friend in Amara. Someone who understood what it was like to live with a controlling father. Someone who understood how it felt to be powerless over your own life. Someone in love with someone they couldn't realistically be with.

After the initial problems the date had caused between them, Phayu had also come to like Amara, at least he thought, and sometimes participated in video messaging her. Rain wasn't entirely sure if it was because Phayu actually enjoyed chatting with Amara or if he was keeping close watch on their interactions. But, Phayu had told him that he was happy Rain had found a new friend, probably knowing Rain only had Sky.

Sometimes Rain wondered if Phayu had any friends. Rain had asked, but Phayu had dodged the question saying he didn't have time for his friends right now, which filled Rain with an odd sense of guilt. Not that he had done anything to cause this, as Phayu took the job before even knowing Rain, but the guilt of it still floated around the periphery of his mind.

Rain looked up at Phayu's face hovering above him, setting his book down on his chest. Phayu was intently reading something on his phone with his bottom lip tucked between his teeth in concentration. Rain wiggled around in his position, laying with his head in Phayu's lap, trying to gain his attention. Just as he was about to grab the phone from Phayu's hand, he heard a short but loud knock on the door.

"Master Rain. Phayu. Channarong is on his way here," they heard Bun Ma through the door.

Phayu jolted up from his position on the sofa, Rain's head bouncing on the cushion in his absence. Rain watched as Phayu walked swiftly through the door, shutting it behind him softly, without a word or glance for Rain. While he understood the need for urgency, Phayu's wordless departure still stung. Left him wishing for a day when they could hear a knock on the door and simply answer the door casually and without fear.

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Although Phayu knew there would inevitably be more dates, he still found himself unprepared when the next one happened. Spending another evening standing off to the side, having to act uninterested as he watched Rain interact with a potential future partner was almost more than Phayu was able to manage. It took every ounce of willpower and focus to stand still, keeping his face expressionless. Focus that needed to be on the surroundings and the people in the restaurant, not on Rain and this Yihwa person. He could feel a headache coming on from the exertion of trying to do his job while also closely watching the interaction at the table in front of him.

This date felt different from the previous one. Rain's date with Amara had been awkward until they found common ground. But this date. This one felt more real. This, Yihwa, clearly had every intention, in Phayu's opinion, of catching and keeping Rain. When Rain had introduced himself, she had put her hand out and waited for him to take it, nodding at him slightly to indicate he should kiss it. Phayu wanted to punch her but Rain just giggled, clearly embarrassed, shook it gently and dropped it. A look of irritation had passed across her face before quickly pasting back on her attempt at a seductive smile.

Phayu watched her giggle, flip her hair back constantly over her shoulder, and trace her fingers back and forth across the middle of the table as if hoping Rain would take her hand. He had started glancing under the table to see if she would try and rub her foot against Rains. While her attempts at seduction may have worked on many men, she was quite attractive after all, he knew that it wouldn't work on his Rain. He told himself it wouldn't work on Rain. Rain liked men. Phayu in particular. He had nothing to worry about. Rain would never fall for this. But he also knew Rain had to play along, at least a little.