The Red Thread of Destiny

Chapter 23: When Jealousy rears its head - Part 1

"A little jealousy in a relationship is healthy; it's always nice to know that someone is afraid to lose you."

Theerpanayakul mansion, Rain and Sky's room, later that night –

Rain and Sky sat on the floor with their stuff spread on the low table near the couch as they worked on an assignment from music class. They had been able to borrow a guitar from Uncle Kim and Rain strummed it and made musical notations, while Sky worked on the lyrics. They worked in companiable silence, until the strumming suddenly stopped. Sky looked up to see Rain looking at him. "Vangayi?" he asked, clearly interpreting Rain's look. There was something on his mind he had told no one. Usually, Rain was transparent as glass, what you saw was what you got. But Rain had a hidden depth that he showed only to his closest ones. And Sky was proud to be part of Rain's inner circle, which included his fathers, Sky's fathers and Sky himself. They had been his confidantes, partners in-crime and sounding boards for as long as he could remember.

"I know I could be wrong, but there is more to this Lhong situation that meets the eye," Rain said. "What do you mean?" Sky asked. "I am still not able to get over the fact as to how he found out about me. And why he came to see me. Sky, I remember Papa K telling that even though the shooting had been leaked to the media, that was on that day, and all stories were recalled. We came back from Ko Phangan on Sunday, a day after the incident. There is no way me being with P'Phayu would have been public knowledge. Even when Phi comes to the college for watching our performances, it is chalked up to a visit from the owners of the Uni. So no one knows that also," Rain elaborated his reasoning. Sky stayed silent for a while, thoughtfully analysing whatever Rain had said.

"Do you remember the Ple incident? Where P'Phayu said something about you being taken? And the photo at the club? Remember that?" he asked. It was Rain's turn to be thoughtful. "Nope, can't be the photo thing, because P'Phayu has been photographed with numerous people. The Internet is flooded with pictures of P'Phayu and P'Pai, heir-apparents of the Theerpanayakul family, famous playboys and most eligible bachelors. There has been someone new every day," he said. "But Rain, has there been a picture of him with someone else after he danced with you at the club?" Sky asked. "Yep, with some girl, at some black-tie Gala, a couple of days after our photo. Which is why people in college started telling me about him," he said. "And the Ple thing?" "Can't be that either. For one, Ple doesn't seem the type of girl who will speak up after rejection. And two, I spoke to Ple after that too. Or rather she spoke to me. I told her that the Phi who spoke to her is a friend of the family, and he knows I am gay, so he was just helping out." "She believed that? If she did, she is more naïve than I thought her to be," Sky said, incredulously. "At first she looked a bit dubious, but I told her that, because of a childhood incident, my family was over-protective, so.." Rain trailed off, as they both heard a knock on the door.

"Who could it be?" Rain mouthed. "P'Phayu and/or P'Pai," Sky said giggling, as he got up to open the door. Rain also smiled, happy to see Sky much more relaxed around P'Pai. Sky opened the door, nodded, and stepped back to allow the two older men into the room. "What were you guys doing?" Pai asked. "Homework," Sky said with a smile. "What is the reason behind this rather suspicious, nocturnal visit?" Rain asked. "What? Can't we come see you?" Phayu asked, pouting. "Huh! Yep, you can. But that's not why you are here," Rain said, low-key destroying any chances of both the men coming up with any excuse. "And P'Phayu? Why are you not sleeping? You need your rest," Rain said sternly. "We just wanted to talk to you both about Chiang Mai," Phayu said. "Okay. What is it?" Sky asked. "Are you sure you want to go?" Pai asked. "P'Pai, I think I have given sufficient enough reasons as to why I want to go, and why I WILL go," he said, steadily. "I am stubborn as hell, and I don't change my mind easily. So if you are in for the long haul with me P'Phayu, you should know this about me," he said, shaking his head. "And now off you go. We are also sleepy. P'Pai, please make sure he sleeps, okay?" Rain said, shooing them both out of the room, as Sky stood giggling.