Beyond The Fine Line

Chapter LII - The Gang Is Back Together?

The evening air hung still and heavy, carrying the faint scent of motor oil that clung to the corners of the garage. Bright fluorescent lights cast long shadows across the concrete floor, seeping outside through a narrow crack in the door. The space felt suspended, as if time moved slower here, just out of step with the restless city beyond. Even the distant hum of Bangkok's traffic barely reached the metal door, leaving only the quiet, familiar presence of the garage to fill the silence.

Tay paused a few steps from the entrance, his gaze sweeping over everything. It has been a long time since he had been here. A wave of nostalgia washed over him as if the countless hours he had spent here belonged to another life entirely. It was surprising how badly he missed this place. But at the same time, it wasn't. In just a few years, the garage and people belonging here became his family.

"What are you waiting for?" Win asked, draping himself over Tay. "Missing your fancy hospital room already?"

Tay rolled his eyes. "The food wasn't too bad."

"Too bad?" he questioned with his eyebrow raised high. "I have seen your meals... they were even fancier than the room itself. Oh, dear... however shall you come back down to living amongst us mere mortals?"

"It wasn't that hard the first time around," Tay said with a slight sigh. "Although I didn't have to burn my bed."

Win burst out laughing. "How are you dealing with your brother – who, let's face it, looks very much like you – dating your nemesis? People might even think you're the one dating him... oh oh, identical twins have that thing where they feel the same things... does that mean you're into Sean, too? Was all that animosity just a cover?"

Tay took a deep breath and rubbed his forehead, counting in his mind to ten. Still, if looks could kill, Win would become a very amused pile of ashes.

"Jesus Fucking Christ, have you lost your damn mind," Tay hissed. "I would rather fucking die. Who would even want that asshole?"

His eyebrow cocked slightly. "Jay, clearly."

"I don't care what he does, don't try to drag me into it."

Win looked at him worriedly. "Are you sure about this? I thought you talked things over."

"A few conversations won't change anything, Win," Tay sighed helplessly. "We are strangers, and I don't think this will ever change. We can manage a civil conversation, but that's about it. Too much has happened... things you can't come back from. And, honestly? I was a complete asshole to him."

"Jay is much more understanding than you think."

Tay shook his head. "There is a difference between understanding and resignation."

Win looked at him in confusion, sensing that Tay was hinting at something deeper, something he had no right to pry into. Still, it felt wrong to stand by and watch two people he genuinely cared about end up like this.

"You could try to be something more than strangers," he insisted. "I don't know much details, but it seems like it wasn't your fault you lost contact with each other but your parents. Wouldn't staying like this mean they won?"

"They won the moment that woman walked out through the door, dragging Jay with her. Or maybe even sooner... after all, even our names show we were never meant to be close. He was always hers, and I was always... that bastard's. Whatever bound us back then, it couldn't stand up to everything that came after."

"You can't just give up now, Tay!" Win protested, tightly gripping his shoulders. "You clearly care bout him a lot, and Jay came all the way here to save your sorry ass. It must mean something. He even paid for your outrageously expensive hospital and security company."