Under My Protection

Chapter 16

Sweat dripped down his temple, palms damp, as he watched Bangkok's scenery pass by outside the car window. He placed his hands, palms down, onto the leather seats, attempting to ground himself as his mind floated off, trying to disassociate from the current moment and impending event. He struggled to keep his mind in the present, focused on how he was going to get through tonight and act like a normal person and not someone who was struggling to maintain his sanity. His hands stuck to the leather uncomfortably, so he lifted them to rub them up and down on his pant legs.

He wanted to hurl himself onto the body next to him, bury his face into the neck he always found comfort in. Wanted to throw open the car door, push their bodies roughly onto the pavement below, and run. But he stayed still, face focused out the window, rubbing his hands into his pants with increasing pressure.

Rain knew that they were getting close to their destination and he felt his body slowly breaking into a pile of puzzle pieces on the seat. Pieces that might never get put back together, not by him, not by Phayu. Forever sitting in a jumbled pile that was too difficult to solve, so difficult that people would push it aside, not attempting to reassemble, and moving on to something easier, simpler. As he saw the restaurant come into view, he moved his right hand back onto the seat, sliding it closer to Phayu, hoping for a touch of hands, a brief moment of relief from his thoughts. But Phayu's hands remained fisted on his thighs possibly because Phayu did not see Rain's hand or possibly because he didn't want to feel his skin against Rain's. Sometimes Rain thought that maybe Phayu was giving up, tired of trying to keep Rain's puzzle together. Rain tried to keep those thoughts locked up in a tiny corner of his brain but they still escaped occasionally, running loose through every inch of his mind, until Rain managed to lock them up again.

Rain felt the car stop and watched through the window at his parents exiting the other car, followed by their bodyguards. He angled his head to see Channarong standing at the entrance to the restaurant that Rain knew had been reserved only for them. He heard Phayu leave the car, slamming the door behind him, and walking around the car to open Rain's door. Rain looked up into Phayu's blank face, certain he was the only one who could see the tension there. When he didn't move, he heard a sharp "Rain" from Phayu. Rain tried to summon movement from his body but none was to be found. No amount of willpower could make his muscles move.

Several minutes passed when Rain heard his father shout from the restaurant doorway, "Rain! Get out of the car now!" But still, he sat frozen, feet glued to the car floor, eyes pinned on Phayu. Finally, Phayu's eyes tilted downward, looking into Rain's. "Rain," he said, softer than before, pleading. His eyes softened, reflecting his love, his fear, and Rain felt a shred of strength enter him, feet moving from the floor to the pavement. He rose from the car, Phayu stepping back so he could get out.

"We'll be fine. I promise," Phayu whispered and Rain forced himself to believe. Chose to believe Phayu even though the rational part of his brain told him he was a fool to do so. He nodded faintly at Phayu, knowing Phayu was working on a plan. He had told Rain he was. So Rain believed. He believed. He did. "I believe" became the mantra his brain said over and over, willing his mind to match his heart in believing.

He walked towards the entrance noting all the bodyguards standing sentry across the length of the building front, knowing they extended around the back to encircle the restaurant. He noted the other cars in the parking lot that meant the other dinner guests had arrived before them. As he walked through the door, he felt Channarong's glare follow him, filled with animosity. He often wondered if Channarong would protect him in a moment of need like he would his father or if he would step aside and let him be killed. Would his duty to Rain's father win out over his barely hidden disdain for Rain? Rain shook his mind free of that thought, realizing he didn't really care much about what Channarong would decide, hoping he would never find out.

He walked in, moving to sit at the table, then was stopped by his father's hand on his shoulder. Rain was led by the elbow to another seat. His father pulled out the chair gesturing for Rain to sit. Looking into the face of the person that would be sitting next to him he forced his body to sit.

"Hi Rain. I'm so happy to see you," Yihwa said, looking at him happily, like an expectant puppy.

Open your mouth and respond, he told himself. Say something. Don't be stupid. Say something. Open your mouth. "Hi Yihwa," he managed, neither smiling nor expanding upon his barely produced greeting.

Rain endured the dinner as best he could, speaking only when spoken to and only with the briefest of answers. He could feel his father's displeasure with his behavior, but, honestly, what did his father expect? Did he really think he would be happy about this? So he sat, never looking towards Yihwa except when she tried to grab his hand or when she would try and sneak her hand onto his lap. Each time, he subtly pushed her away, trying to send her a warning in his gaze but since she continued to try, he assumed either his looks weren't menacing enough or she just didn't care.

Rain could only imagine what Phayu was thinking, feeling, as he watched the mini battle of hands occurring between them. Would he be enraged seeing Yihwa try to touch him over and over? Or would he find humor in it? Struggle to contain his laughter at watching Rain deflect all of her attempts and watching her continue to try with no success.

Needing a break from maintaining a constant guard against Yihwa's advances and trying to stay focused on the dinner conversation in case someone asked him a direct question, Rain asked for permission to visit the restroom. His father nodded in response before gesturing to both Phayu and Channarong to accompany him. Rain had been hoping that only Phayu would come along but he quickly stuffed his disappointment deep into his stomach reminding himself to stop expecting anything to turn out the way he always kept hoping for.

Once arriving at the restroom, Phayu went to push the door open and Rain briefly lost his footing as Channarong pushed him aside to grab the door before Phayu could.

"I'll accompany him. You stay here," Channarong spat venomously, looking between Phayu and Rain. Noticing Phayu's clenched hands, Rain knew Phayu was not pleased with the command but he nodded and stepped back allowing Rain to enter the restroom with Channarong following behind.

**************************************************

Phayu looked down at his watch, noting that it had been about seven minutes since the pair had gone through the restroom door. He tried to keep unpleasant scenarios of what might be happening behind the door and worked to convince himself that most likely Channarong was standing off in a corner, tapping his foot impatiently, and complaining to Rain that he was taking too long.

Phayu continued alternating between scanning his surroundings and looking down at his watch, keeping track of how long they'd been in there before he was distracted by a loud thump coming from the bathroom. He waited a brief moment after knocking on the door before pushing the door open, terror entering every corner of his body, bile rising in his throat.

On the floor against the opposite wall was Channarong, unconscious and bleeding profusely from a wound on his temple. The window above him was part way open with no sign of Rain.

Notes:

Thanks for waiting patiently for my updates. Life has been a little crazy for me lately but my summer break from work is coming soon and I hope to be back to my usual self.

This is the point where the story starts to turn a bit and there will be a little more action than I typically write. Not sure how this will go since I've never written this type of story, but I'm gonna give it my best shot.