MIDNIGHT DAYDREAM

Chapter 20

Chay's eyes find Big. He shakes his head, but Big gives him a sorry grimace. He understands though. Big has a job to do. If he doesn't report this to Kim, he will be punished. Probably severly. He sighs a heavy breath.

He doesn't know Ash will be here. He doesn't want this nor have control over this.

He makes a polite smile and wai to Ash, who greets him back with a soft smile. Ash's hand is placed too close to his own on the chair's armrest. He sits too close. But there is no way Chay can retract his chair without being impolite.

Kai stares at Macau openly while he sits and eats without a care. Macau is used to this, his pretty face has gained attention, wanted or not, since he was born.

"The bike ... You like it?" Kai asks voice drips with deep honey. It's clearly meant to be seductive. It takes Chay back a bit that the man used without shame when Chay and Ash are sitting right in front of them.

Macau nods and Kai signals the waiter, probably to bring more food and drink. "Eat slowly," Kai says. To Chay's surprise, Cau obediently follows. But when Kai brushes his hand on Macau's hair, he slaps the hand away and gives him a disliked face before stuffing his face again.

Macau is about to grab his wine when Kai grabs it first and replaces it with water. Only now Macau shifts his whole attention to Kai. "Give it back."

"No. After. For now, drink water. Water is good for you."

"Huh!" Macau snorts. His voice is loud enough to catch the attention of the whole restaurant. "In case you haven't got the memo, no one can tell me to do anything."

Kai's eyebrows shot up. "Well then, it's about time someone tells you what to do, isn't it? Stop being a brat and drink your water."

Macau grabs Chay's wine bottle and drinks the whole glass while his eyes are still fixed on Kai. Kai grits his jaws at the act of defiance.

Chay is conflicted about whether he should act or not in seeing Macau like this. This is the first time someone actually can get to Macau's skin.

"Let them be," Ash says, his voice soothing amongst these acts of madness in front of him. "They'll be fine."

Chay is not sure but nods and sits back uncomfortably, his eyes still fixed on Macau.

"How are you, Porchay?"

Chay turns his head to Ash. "I'm fine, Phi. Thanks for asking. How are you, Phi?"

"Not really good, no," Ash smiles at him.

Chay's forehead scrunches up with worry. "Are you ill?"

Ash's smile goes wider. His eyes roam on Chay's face. "You can say that. I fall hard but no one catches me."

With eyes bigger, Chay asks, "You fall? When?" His body automatically gets closer to Ash's.

"Sometimes ago, but I just realized now that I fall hard."

Chay can't follow. What Ash said didn't make sense, did it?  His confusion is evident. "Huh?"

Ash laughs. Chay can almost hear the ooh and ah from people around them who can still see their faces. He is indeed getting more beautiful when he smiles. If that is even possible. But it only made him think of Kim.

"What he meant is he falls in love, Nong Chay," Kai interjects.

"Oh," Chay pauses. Is he, now? Chay feels glad all of a sudden. "Who's the lucky woman?"

"Who said it's a woman?" Ash asks back.

The confusion is back again. "But I thought ...," Chay looks back to Macau who gives him an 'I told you so' face. "Aren't you ... Aren't you straight, Phi?"