Unmasked

Do You Have Plans

When all his meetings had concluded, Tin found himself at the familiar spot he always sought solace in whenever he felt the world was being a bit harsh: next to his brother's business. The business was a mechanic shop named Medthanan's located in the heart of the city, frequented by the affluent who brought their luxury cars for servicing. Prior to owning the shop, Yacht was constantly in trouble - whether it was with the authorities or unsavory characters. Their bond had suffered a significant blow.

"Yacht—what the fuck?"

"I'm sorry! I never intended for any of this to occur."

"You know what's really frustrating? I'm starting to doubt my ability to keep you safe. This is absolutely the final warning, and if you ever attempt something foolish like this again, I won't hesitate to ensure you face the consequences in jail! Are we clear on that?"

"I hear you."

"No!" Tin shook his head, took hold of Yacht's shirt, and forcefully pushed him against the side of the fancy truck. "Don't just say it because you think it's what I want to hear, or because you want me off your back. This time, really mean it, Yacht. Truly mean it!"

"I'm serious. I swear! I mean it."

Tin promised his brother that he would provide him with the necessary funds to kickstart his mechanic shop when he first heard about it. However, there was a condition attached to his offer. Regardless of their relationship as siblings, it was strictly a business arrangement. Considering Yacht's impressive history, he wasn't willing to take any unnecessary risks. If Yacht managed to turn the business into a success within two years, he wouldn't owe a single penny. However, if he made a mistake and faced legal issues resulting in the loss of the business, Yacht would be obligated to repay every cent with interest.

Yacht left him astonished. In just one year, the Yacht established a prosperous business and never glanced back. The intimate and brotherly connection they shared during their childhood gradually rekindled. Tin was overjoyed by this.

"Hey, bro, you got a minute?" Tin asked.

Yacht glanced up from the clipboard he had been fixated on and grinned. "Hey there!" He quickly approached Tin and embraced him tightly. "Well, well, well. I finally have some free time. My friend, it's been ages since you last shaved, huh? You're starting to resemble a nomad."

Tin chuckled quietly and casually shrugged, gently brushing his hand across his face. Besides the fact that his brother referred to everyone as "dude," he couldn't help but find it absolutely amusing that Yacht, who was wearing oil-stained overalls, would label someone else as a nomad.

"I really can't stand shaving, you know."

Yacht nodded. "All right. Just give me a moment to clean off this Peugeot."

Tin agreed with a nod and made his way to Yacht's office. To his surprise, the room was spotless, unlike Yacht's usual messy home. The walls were decorated with photos Tin had captured during their trip to Bora Bora a couple of years ago. It puzzled Tin why Yacht didn't display any of the pictures he had taken himself, considering he was right there with Tin on the vacation. Tin reached over to his desk and grabbed the lone picture frame amidst the towering piles of file folders. He recognized it instantly as the photo of him and Yacht on the day they inaugurated the shop. In the picture, Tin was affectionately kissing Yacht's head, while his brother beamed at the camera with a wide smile. It was a moment that filled Tin with immense pride for his younger sibling, and he silently hoped for countless more instances like this in the future.

As he waited, he decided to browse through his phone to see if there were any updates on his Telegram account, but unfortunately, there were no messages from NiknaC. Every time he glanced up, he noticed one of his brother's workers giving him a curious look. His heart raced in his chest.