Cast a Shadow [My Stand In]

so now I wish

Under the dull husk of a cold morning, Ming stood outside, shivering in nothing but his underwear. With his hands wrapped around his torso and his fists clenched, he'd chosen nothing else to keep him warm but his gray, boxer shorts. He wasn't sure if this was penance or plain cruelty, but either way, he'd found himself in that position, aware that it was either this or something much worse.

It was always worse.

He'd learned pretty quickly that if he chose the second option in place of what was offered, the second would dwarf the first in proper cruelty.

"Tong, he's covering the good bits," York, Tong's classmate, said from his warm perch on the veranda where he'd wrapped himself into his blanket.

"Drop your hands," Tong said, lying in his bed as he read a book, not bothering to spare Ming a glance.

"It's..." Ming began. "It's cold, Phi."

"Drop your fucking hands."

As head boy, Tong had his own private space on the top floor, looking out from his room. York was the only other person besides Ming whoever got to go up there. He was the only other person who knew about Ming or the things he and Tong got up to.

Sometimes? Sometimes, Tong let him indulge, as long as he didn't touch Ming.

"Look at the pretty, brown peanuts," York said, smiling as his eyes stayed glued to Ming's hardened nipples. "Why would you hide them from me?"

Still shivering, Ming replied, "I'm sorry, Phi."

"It's fine," York said. But as he opened his mouth to speak, words didn't come out anymore.

"What?" Ming asked.

York spoke, but once again, no words came out. Instead, it was the ringing of Ming's phone that rang in Ming's ears as he watched York's lips open and close.

Gasping softly, Ming opened his eyes.

For a moment, he wasn't sure where he was. But as the cobwebs began to clear, he could recognize the white curtains, the brown, wooden tiles, the green cupboards. The scent of homemade food seemed to permeate the air permanently. The feel of Joe's soft sheets.

Turning on his back, Ming took a deep breath and steadied his head for a moment.

On and on, his phone continued to ring on the side cupboard, so he stretched out for it.

"What?"

"Khun-Ming?" Jim said. "I have some bad news."

"What is it?"

"I reached out to the A-list directors and some screen playwrights and I got the same answer."

"Which is?"

"No one is taking on new projects, right now."

"Excuse me?" Ming asked, sitting up in bed as Joe's covers fell away. "Did you tell them that I was the one asking?"

"I did, but it appears there's a moratorium on movie-making activities, nationwide."

Scoffing as he licked his lip, Joe got out of bed. "Who has that kind of power? Tell me so I'll fucking-"

"It's your sister, Khun-Ming."

Ming slowed to a stop as his hand rose to scratch his head.

Without waiting for Ming's question, Jim answered, "Akarayota Enterprises has every movie maker on hold for untold reasons."

"Why would she do this?"

"She's done it before without explaining why but ever since news of her engagement to Tong Saelim broke, there's been speculation that every time Akarayoti stepped on schedules, it was usually when Tong had an issue with someone."