Beyond The Fine Line

Chapter XXIV - Back to Reality

As the storm raged outside, the relentless downpour beat against the windows of the bungalow, accompanied by the ominous rumble of thunder echoing through the night. Inside, however, a quiet calm enveloped the space, a stark contrast to the chaos outside. The gentle hum of the air conditioning filled the room, mingling with the faint scent of steaming pho. Forgotten amid their conversation, the bowl of noodles sat untouched, the fragrant broth slowly cooling as time seemed to stand still.

Jay's unexpected embrace offered a comfort he hadn't realised he was craving. But as soothing as it was, it also left him feeling conflicted. Their relationship was meant to be purely physical, with no strings attached. Jay had been upfront about his intentions, and Sean respected that. Yet here they were, sharing a moment that seemed to defy their agreement.

With a somewhat awkward smile, Sean gently extricated himself from Jay's embrace, silently acknowledging the unspoken boundaries they had set. It was a bittersweet moment, tinged with a hint of regret for what could never be. Still, Sean didn't want to risk getting too invested and potentially getting hurt in the process.

"Sorry... I didn't mean to drag you into my mess and ruin the mood," Sean said, picking up chopsticks and forcing himself to swallow a piece of beef.

Jay's smile tightened, a realisation hitting him as he acknowledged that he had overstepped the boundaries they had set. Was this whole arrangement a mistake? His struggle to maintain control over his emotions left him feeling uneasy, worried that he might inadvertently lead Sean into expecting more than he could offer. It was the last thing he wanted. Perhaps it would be best to end things before they spiralled further out of control. Yet, a small part of him resisted that notion. He didn't want Sean to think he didn't care... even if it was nothing more than a foolish game on borrowed time.

"You didn't... I was the one who asked," Jay said, following his example to focus on dinner. "But if you want to talk about it, I have nowhere else to be."

Sean hesitated momentarily, then laughed as if to lighten the mood. "Are you sure you want to listen to my tragic backstory?"

"Tragic, huh?" he replied, resting his elbow on the table and propping his chin on his palm. A playful smile danced on his lips, mirroring Sean's light tone. "Now you have my interest."

Sean genuinely burst out laughing. "You are impossible."

"Part of my charm."

Suddenly, Sean froze with chopsticks halfway to his mouth when he realised he could watch this cheeky, one-sided smile forever and never get enough of it. It seemed irresistible. 'I'm doomed... am I?'

"Who said you are charming, huh?" he quipped back at him, yet his expression remained serious, somewhat sombre.

"Ouch."

"There, there," Sean gently patted his head. "I guess after we dragged you into this mess, you deserve to know my reasons... even if they aren't as lofty as they may appear."

Jay gave him a questioning look.

"It's personal... I mean, I can see the bigger picture now, but my main reasons are personal," Sean sighed, looking somewhat ashamed of himself. "I just want to make Niran Chaiyawat pay for what he did."

"Your father's accident?"

Sean slightly shook his head, indicating this wasn't all. "A few months later, we lost our home to that bastard."

"How?"

"I'm not sure," he replied with a heavy sigh. "My parents had all the legal paperwork proving ownership of the plot and the house, yet somehow Chaiyawat's lawyer came one day claiming that the whole area belonged to that asshole. I can only imagine he bribed officials within the local land or property registration office or even the city planning or development departments."