A Book Called Desire

XX. Defining Us (11)

It's been more than a year.

Kai and Macau's relationship are blooming to the right direction. Macau is still Macau. A spoiled brat, now even more spoiled in the hands of Kai. But he has matured and now starting to dip his toes to the business side of his family.

His parents have been nagging him to marry, but Macau said not now. Maybe next year. Kai just went along with it and tried to reason with his parents about it. It's not easy since his mom is already looking for engagement venues and designs since last month. Macau just grins every time his mother asks or drags him here and there for it. He doesn't say much other than, "I don't know, Mom. I think Kai doesn't want to marry just yet because of the expansion and all."

Sure, just put the blame on him, right?

In reality, Kai agrees that now is not the right time to plan for a wedding. He is busier than ever. He sometimes even feels bad as he is often physically absent as Macau's boyfriend in the past six months. Mac says he is ok with it, but Kai has been in his age once. He knows that it's not the truth.

Fortunately, the businesses that Kim gave Tankhun, Porchay, and Macau to manage are blooming. So, he is kinda glad something can take away the longing his boyfriend has for him.

Tankhun has been in tabloids and news outlets than he has in his lifetime before this. He is more free than ever after his father died and both Kinn and Kim let him do whatever he wants to do and support him unconditionally.

Sometimes he dragged the other two, but Porchay, being shy and having a possessive-obsessive-stubborn-and head of THE mafia family, is rarely seen in public.

Many want to interview Macau, but he is selective on what he wants to be in. When he does, the impact is getting bigger and bigger. He is handsome, friendly, and playful. Unlike most of his cousins and brother. The way he answers questions is witty. When they asked about Kai, he was usually closing half of the door without being noticed by the interviewer or the people, but those who were close to him knew.

Many people also want to interview them as a couple, but Kai turns him down. They like being a private couple rather than a public one. Sure, they often go to events together, being foto graphed and answering questions. But to actually be in a one-on-one interview takes a lot of intimacy to be folded open. He knows Macau is not comfortable enough to do that and he also doesn't have to time and patience for it.

They already don't have that much time to be alone, but in that little time they have, they try to make the most of it. Believe him, if Kai has a say, he wants to be Macau 24/7. But what can he do, right? His fear needs to be put first right now.

Kai works hard to expand his family's name, influence, money, and power across Asia and other continents. He even made a deal with the devil (a.k.a Kim with a little help of convincing from that little brother) to put two family names against the Hiyamas. Kim certainly steers the family in a different tone than his father and it makes the Hiyamas rethink things in a different light.

In his mind, he needs to be at a certain point in order to put Nao at his place and stay there. Yes, the Theerapanyakuls' name helps, but he needs more. Kai isn't one who depends on others after all.

There is no movement from that side of the world but it doesn't mean Nao doesn't do anything at all.

The rumors. Gossip. Whispers. All has nothing to do with Macau on the surface, but he knows Nao is more secretive than he wants anyone to think. Kim said, Nao is just like him with a little difference (Kai thinks Kim is crazier as he killed his own father). "It takes one to know one. He is waiting patiently. Don't take your eyes off of him."

So he didn't.

That is why when the news of Nao's father passing hits, he is among the first one to know. Kim, always one step in front, is already pulling him in to the main mansion for emergency meeting.

All nine of them sit in the soundproof room in silence for a while.

"Did he kill his father?"

Kim gives a negative answer. "Didn't have the gut," he says solemnly. "Both of them are very filial. Their father handled them with iron fists after all."

Comparing the late Mr. Hiyama to Kim's father, Khun Korn was considered very tolerant, both as a leader and a father. He was a puppeteer, not a dictator. Khun Korn enjoyed to pull strings and keep his hands clean.

"I believe Nao will take over the family. He is always the shadow leader even when his father is still in reign. His brother? He doesn't have the guts to do the heavy liftings," Kim says.

"It's only been an hour since his passing. Will they elect the leader in days?" Kinn asks.

"No need. The title has been passed down for centuries, just like us. With us, the elders still need to agree. Them? Not so much. It is either you take it or bite the bullet."

"Will he use his brother as a cover?" Vegas asks. He knows the dynamic of that family more than the others.

Kim shakes his head. "No. He already made trips to visit the elders before his father died. His motivation is to rally support, I believe. He doesn't want any friction related to his appointment as the leader, it will make his stand to be unsolid. We know how that's going to play in this world of ours. His brother didn't make any moves. It seems he is agreeing."

"He is," Vegas says, "He always hates the family business."

"He doesn't hate the money, though. He got some expensive boy toys to be fed," Kai chimes in.

"Some?" Pete's eyebrows rise, giving a look to his boyfriend. Vegas laughs, "He doesn't have me, Baby. He needs multiple people to fill the gap."

The sexual innuendo gets Porchay to blush. Kim pinches his cheek, "Do you even understand that?"

Porchay slaps his hand away, "With you as a husband, what do you think?"

All those cute bickering doesn't reach Macau. He stays disturbingly silent. Kai presses his thigh to assure him. "Don't worry, Baby," he whispers as he kisses Cau's cheek.

Macau nods, but all the people in the room know how he truly feels.

"I don't think he will make immediate move to Macau. He will need time to adjust and take the reign completely. His inside persons are all waiting. They want to know what kind of leader Nao will be as he is not as quiet and secretive as his father. He is living large and rather loud."

"But we still need to take measures," Kai says, understanding where Kim leads to. "I think it will restrict Macau's movement for a while." He feels sorry for his boyfriend, but Macau himself seems to be ready. The boy only nods again, doesn't say anything still.

"From now on, you can only get out if one of us, except Hia Khun and Porchay, is with you. No offense, Hia, your fighting skill sucks!" Kim says. Tankhun only rolls his eyes. "I don't want to dirty myself either."

"You also can't be alone in a room. We learned to what happen to Chay before," Vegas adds.

Macau nods again, agreeing.

But despite all his nodding, he still find himself inside a cargo ship and sees up close the handsome face of Naozumi Hiyama.

"You finally wake up, Baby."'