Forget Me Not

Chasing the Countdown

After Man and Boss safely dropped off Tine and his friends at one of the stores, Man returned to back up Sarawat. He fired a shot as Sarawat sprinted towards him. Spotting one of the enemies, Man took aim and fired again, just as Sarawat grabbed the gun, quickly tossing it back to Man, who now covered them with both weapons.

Boss fired from the corner, protecting Tine and his friends while taking careful aim at the enemies advancing on Man and Sarawat. One of Thierry's men leveled a machine gun at Man as they ran, but Sarawat spotted him first, shooting the man with precision as he dove through the air into the store. To their surprise, Sarawat and Man landed right at the feet of Tine and his friends, looking up with a mix of relief and amusement.

"Wow, I did not expect that!" Sarawat said to Man, who couldn't help but chuckle with him. But their brief moment of levity was cut short as they spotted two more goons charging toward the store with guns drawn.

"Oh, come on!" Boss blurted out in frustration. "They're like fucking cockroaches—they just keep coming!"

Without a moment's rest, Sarawat quickly used the weapons they'd confiscated from the disarmed goons, taking both of the new attackers down with swift accuracy.

"So, did you two decide to date out of boredom?" Tine couldn't help but quip, still watching Sarawat as if he were the star of a live-action movie.

Sarawat was checking the ammo left in the gun he'd taken when he replied, "We decided we wanted something more than this."

Boss glanced at them in disbelief. "Seriously? You're discussing your relationship right now? Unbelievable."

Sarawat grabbed the fallen men's guns and ammo, tossing clips to Man as they reloaded and stocked up. "We dated a lot," Man chimed in. "A LOT. Tried those online apps, and everyone was a nightmare. No offense if any of you are on there," he added, glancing at Tine's friends.

"None taken," Fong replied dryly.

It was clear that Tine wasn't the only one mesmerized by the intense action unfolding before them. Even Phuak and Ohm were glued to the scene, which was remarkable considering the real danger they were in. The way Sarawat, Man, and Boss seamlessly took turns jumping out and firing at more attackers was nothing short of impressive. The rhythm of their movements fascinated Tine's friends.

In the midst of the chaos, Sarawat suddenly had to push Tine's head down behind cover as a bullet whizzed past, hitting the wall just inches away. "Be careful," he warned.

"I'm not afraid," Tine replied, his voice steady.

Using the mirror on the store wall where they were hiding, Sarawat scanned the mall, searching for an escape route. He spotted another shop across the way with a pull-down security door. He signaled to Man and Boss, and they both understood immediately. Sarawat grabbed Tine while Boss and Man took hold of Tine's friends, covering them as they moved across to the other side.

"You may not be afraid, but I am..." Sarawat muttered under his breath.

Tine looked at him, surprised by the admission. "You don't look afraid."

"I don't want to lose you," Sarawat confessed.

The words were simple but true, carrying a sincerity that left Tine momentarily speechless. If they weren't in the middle of a life-or-death situation, he might have pulled Sarawat in for a kiss, but he knew better. Now wasn't the time to let emotions take over. He kept his feelings in check and followed Sarawat's lead, not wanting to add to the chaos.

Tine and his friends moved in single file towards the next store, ducking low to avoid the gunfire. Just as Tine was about to follow, another group of armed men appeared, spraying bullets in their direction. Man quickly grabbed Tine and spun him towards Sarawat, who pulled him to safety in the corner.