KIMCHAY TALES: BITTERSWEET EXCHANGE

CHAPTER 1

Once upon a time... 

-

Porsche had a hard time paying for a huge loan from a loan shark. The loan shark has been generous, giving him time to pay his loans multiple times, but he wasn't always paid on time. Everyone has a limit, and money is money. After multiple beatings, the loan shark compromised with Porsche that he will work for a wealthy family to pay the debt. Porsche knows that it won't be enough to pay but he has to try.

"Let me help, Hia," Chay said as he aided his brother's wounds. It pains him every time his older brother comes home in this kind of state, wounded and beaten almost to a pulp. He tried to encourage Porsche to let him help but he won't let Chay do it. Porsche doesn't want Chay to experience the things he did.

"No," Porsche answered firmly. He sat upright, wincing in pain. "You're still in school, Chay."

"So are you." Chay rebutted back.

"And I'm having a hard time balancing things," Porsche said.

Chay scoffed, "Hia, by the time you paid the debt, you might be dead and I don't want that." he said, his heart already in grief just by the thought of his brother being dead. They only have each other. If Porsche died, Chay would be lost.

Porsche frowned, "Chay, you don't know what you're doing. I can't lose you."

"You think I can, Hia? Let me help, please. Or I'll ask the loan shark myself." Chay said in full diction. His brother is so hard-headed that Porsche sighed in defeat.

"I don't even know what kind of people I'm working for," Porsche said and sighed once again.

—

The Theerapanyakul family, that's where the Kittisawat brothers are working for. They are one of the most powerful families in the country. With this kind of power, Porsche knows that this family is no good. He tried to discourage Chay, but his brother stood his ground. He will help pay this damn debt. Porsche became a bodyguard for the family, while Chay became a housekeeper for one of the family members who, eventually, don't live in the main house.

Chay thought why do they have plenty of bodyguards but not enough housekeepers? How is he going to keep someone's house tidy when he can't even keep his own home to be one?

As he stood outside the entrance of a huge apartment building with a single backpack on his back, Chay thought how rich this man could be that he owned this whole building. He silently hoped that he would be only taking care of the owner's space, not the whole building.

A man in a suit came, he had a half ponytail on and a cast on his one arm. "Are you Porchay Kittisawat?" he asked grumpily.

Chay nodded and greeted the man, "Yes, you can call me Chay." he said politely.

The man stared at him from bottom to top. It made Chay conscious of his appearance. He looked fine, though. He's wearing his usual style: a pair of sneakers, jeans, and plaid sleeves with a simple shirt inside. He looks decent, at least.

"You're that Porsche's brother?" the man said with a scowl etched on his face.

"Yes," Chay answered. He knows his brother, he's probably a friend of his.

The man scoffed, "Hope you're better than him. Follow me." he said and turned. Well, maybe he's not a friend. Porsche started a week ago and he already made enemies. What is his Hia doing?

With no questions asked, Chay followed the man inside the building and entered the elevator. He pressed the top button stating "Penthouse". Chay doesn't wonder. He's the owner, of course, he stays at the penthouse.