Khao trudged through the rain-soaked streets, his eyes cast downward to avoid the pitying glances of passersby. Anyone could see he was agitated, not even the petrichor could calm him. His mother's words still echoed in his mind: "Get a job, Khaotung. Any job."
He stopped at a street food stall, ordering a bowl of steaming hot noodles. The vendor, Auntie Nam, asked about his job search. Khao forced a smile, hiding his frustration. He was exhausted by the crushing weight of others' expectations. Getting a job isn't like taking candy from a baby. It requires a lot of patience and faith, and unfortunately, he lacked those things.
As he ate, Khao's thoughts drifted to his friends:
- Force, working at a cramped, low-paying gym.
- Mix, juggling multiple part-time jobs to make ends meet.
- Book, struggling to find stable work as a freelance writer.
Anyone would ask: were they truly better off than him? Or just better at pretending? But to him, they were absolutely better because they were independent unlike him.
Khao's thoughts were interrupted by his phone as it buzzed with a text from Podd: "Hey, love. How's the job hunt?"
Khao hesitated, unsure how to respond. With Podd's unwavering faith in him, Khao felt the weight of not wanting to let him down once more.
He replied: "No luck yet, but I'm gonna keep looking though."
The rain intensified, mirroring Khao's growing anxiety. As he walked, Khao stumbled upon a sleek, black sedan parked by the curb. A chauffeur stood beside it, holding an umbrella.
"First Kanaphan Puitrakul" was emblazoned on the side panel.
Khao's curiosity piqued, he approached the chauffeur.
"Can I help you, sir?" the chauffeur asked.
"Just admiring the car," Khao replied.
The chauffeur nodded, his expression unreadable. Khao continued on his way, unaware that his life was about to take a drastic turn.
◑◑◑
First's gaze swept across the street, disdain etched on his face. "What's so good about this place?" he asked condescendingly, his voice dripping with entitlement.
Neo chuckled, leaning against the sedan's doorframe. "You wouldn't understand, First. This place has character. It's real."
First raised an eyebrow. "Real? You mean dirty and poor?"
Neo shrugged. "Maybe to you, but to others, it's home. You wouldn't get it, spoilt kid."
First's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing. "And who might that person be?" he asked, nodding toward Khao, who was walking away.
The chauffeur followed First's gaze. "Just a young man admiring the car, sir."
First's interest piqued, he turned back to the wizard of hackery, Neo. "Find out who he is."
Neo's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Curious about someone outside your social circle, First?"
First's face twisted into a scowl. "Just do it, Neo."
As Neo discreetly made a call, First's thoughts lingered on Khao. Something about the young man's defeated posture resonated with him.
"His name is Khao," Neo said, pocketing his phone. "Twenty-five years old, unemployed, lives with his parents. Struggling to make ends meet."
First's eyes gleamed with intrigue. "How...quaint. I think I'll make contact."
Neo's expression turned wary. "First, don't toy with people's lives."
