MIDNIGHT DAYDREAM

AE: 34

Kim's mind is run on a calculating machine now. He never goes on a battlefield without knowing his exit places and mapping it inside of his mind. He calculates how many guards exist and what route is safer to break in, to minimize the casualties on his side.

Now, that machine works extra hard as he has Porchay in his mind.

It is a work of art to see how he moves, no matter how much he caused. That guy is a dancer in a battlefield with agile moves and accuracy with his shots. Kim seldom wastes his bullets.

Porchay knows this as he has seen the videos. Macau has these, as the videos often use as teaching materials in the compound. They were raided from the CCTV footage of the enemy and some of their own.

He watched them on loop when he couldn't bear the longing any longer.

So when there are shooting sounds outside, he only has two options in his hand. He instantly chooses. He gets up from half-way rituals.

He takes out his phone and dial the number he memorized like the back of his hand. It answers in one second. "Please, don't kill anyone."

"Depends," the sultry voice replies.

"On what?"

"Are you going to be a good boy?"

Chay grits his teeth, "Fine."

When he is about to run outside, his arm is held by Ash. "Chay," the later calls. There is desperation in his voice.

Chay looks at him, feeling very sorry. "I'm sorry, Phi. I don't want blood in my hand."

***

Kim, after receiving the call, says to the others, "Use your silencer. Prepare the cleaning team. Don't kill someone unless you have and if you have to, notify the cleaning team at one. Don't let Chay see it."

His order is articulate and clear. But it leaves the team dumbfounded. Never before does the cleaning team have to clean up the mess during the battle. But, as they can do nothing but nod, each team captain nods and gets their team ready with the latest order.

Pete glances at Vegas who just says, "Ah, love," in a sarcastically possible way. Macau just rolls his eyes.

Going in a battle with Kim's team is very efficient, Pete feels. In no time, they already clear the outside and are getting ready to go in with Kim leading the way. In a puzzling way, he doesn't break the door open and simply opening it with a click. Pete doesn't know what method he uses because he is sure that the door must be locked.

The first view he gets is Chay with his arm being held by Ash and then Ash shouts in pain and dropping to the floor.

Kim had shoot him in the arm and leg.

"Kim!" Vegas shouts in anger. 

"You ask me not to kill him, not to not injure him," Kim says with a flat voice.

"But, fuck, man! Now we need a medic for him." Vegas is about to send someone to get the medic crew, but Kim stops him. His eyes are zeroing on Chay. "Let's get married. There's already a monk and all this. It'll be such a waste if we're not using it."

Chay's mouth gaps. "I do not want to marry you and you cannot force me!"

Kim stays still for a second. It hurts. But then he smiles. Porchay hates that kind of smile on his face. "Sure, take your time to think about it. But he," Kim points to Ash, "will not get any kind of help before you become my wife."

Porchay grits his teeth again. He feels he needs to see the dentist after this over. "He will bleed to death, Kimhan."

Kim shrugs. "Your choice."

"Kim," Kinn tries to interfere, seeing the face of the silent Porsche. "Let's be reasonable here. We don't want any kind of trouble with the Sutivanischaks."

Kim looks at his brother in the eyes. It's enough to silence Kinn for a minute. "Are you going to rule like our great grandfather?"

Everyone in Bangkok knows how their great grandfather ruled the underworld in those days. No one even dared to whisper the Theerapanyakuls' name in a bad way. They all knew the consequences.

"Perhaps," Kim says in a carefree way. "It's about time they know there's a king over a lord. But the choice is not mine." His eyes are back on Porchay, putting pressure.

Kinn wants to say something, but halt himself. His great grandfather, loving no one in his life, was more than just a devil. He was the fear himself. If it is Kim, he certainly can. There is no doubt that Kim can be that cold when it comes to business.

But that's what he fears. He doesn't want Kim to be like that. He looks at Porchay and then retreats to the back. He hopes Chay can mellow him a notch. He really prays for it.

Porsche, knowing that he can't do anything for Chay, not even borrowing Kinn's name, cries silently. If he can, he is willing to trade his life for Chay's freedom. He knows how his brother hates this blacken life and he himself doesn't want Chay to touch that part of this life. The money, sure, but the blood and the fear ...

He will certainly touch that part of this life if he is married to Kim.

After a minute, Chay nods. "Ok, but get the medic first."

Kim tilts his head. "Fine," he replies, shocking everyone who doesn't think he will agree. They are certain that Kim wants Ash dead. "But he stays here."

That means Ash is forced to watch Porchay marry Kim without being able to do anything to stop it.

"That son of Satan and his cunning mind!" Vegas is muttering under his breath.

"His your boss now, you know," Pete says and Vegas makes a face like he regrets his life choices.

This is suppose to be a marriage, a happy gathering, but it is more like a funeral. Porsche is sobbing and needing to be consoled by Kinn.

Macau is so somber and upset that he doesn't even care that his voice is too loud when Kai is calling him to scold. He shuts up after Kim is giving him a death stare. He kills Kim with his eyes and really hopes that somehow God is slapping his cousin so hard that he is in a coma so Chay won't have to go under this force marriage.

Pete and Vegas are silent, knowing that they can't do anything in their place. It is clear that Kim will kill anyone who tries to ruin this. Pete even pinches Macau in advance as a warning.

Ash is taken to the compound's hospital after the marriage ritual is finished, speedily in a helicopter as Porchay was making a fuss about how to come home and being stubborn about it. Kim doesn't say anything to object it when Vegas arranged the accommodation for his best friend, but his silence was making everyone restless. It wasn't a good kind of silence.

The only thing he says to Chay after Ash is safely transported is, "Shut up and get in a car now!" His voice was flat, completely remove of any emotion. That is why it's scary as fuck. His men doesn't even dare to look at him.

Even Chay knows not to stretch it and gets in a car without saying anything. His face already says enough.

Vegas leans closer to Kim. "I just want to know what will you do if Ash is dead here?"

"Take him to the south."

"The south?" Vegas needs to think for a while, then he raises his eyebrows. Kim has a vast farm there, with pigs in particular. Vegas hasn't seen it with his own eyes, but he heard rumors. "And his bones?"

"Acid. They'll be lucky to find anything of him to be buried. If he succeeds in marrying Chay, that'll be his destiny. I don't care about my word with anybody."

Vegas whistles.