Taken

Chapter 7

Bright entered his apartment at the end of a long work day to catch the tail end of a news report.

“~two more men found dead of mysterious causes~” 

He sighed. His mom had been keeping up with the stories since they cropped up a few months ago. She was worried a serial killer was running around Bangkok and nearby cities abducting men then leaving them for dead. “Mom, would you please stop watching the news when you’re stressed? You only make yourself more nervous.” He picked up the remote and flicked through the channels until he found a light-hearted drama for her. 

Bright’s mom walked toward him and pulled him close in her soft embrace. He loved that she was a little chubby and squishy in all the right places. No one gave hugs like his mother. He remembered when he was small enough his head pressed into her stomach, now her head rested in the middle of his chest and her curly hair tickled his chin.

“All those young men disappearing and showing up dead. I just worry and I feel like I need to know-” 

He kept his hands on her shoulders and leaned back a little so he could look her in the eyes. “Constantly hearing about it isn’t going to help anything.” He held her face in his hands. “And I’m doing everything I can to stay safe. I don’t walk at night as much anymore and if I do, I’m always with 2-3 other people I trust. I won’t risk breaking your heart.” 

She smiled up at him, her eyes lighting up. “I know, sweetheart.” She held his face in her hands. “You’re the best son a mother could wish for.”

“And you wished for me?” he whispered, his eyes crinkling at the familiar words they said to each other since he learned how to speak.

“So hard.” 

~

“You seem a little down today, P’,” Win observed, setting aside his script and walking over to Bright. They’d been running lines in preparation for their upcoming scene, but Bright’s heart wasn’t in it. 

Bright scrubbed a hand over his face and put his own script down. “My mom was worrying about the same thing as your brother when I came home last night. She’s been watching the news and now it wouldn’t leave my head.” 

Win grinned and chucked him on the chin, causing Bright to scowl. “I can’t believe people think you’re this ‘bad boy’,” he used air quotes. 

“I am,” Bright said cockily, leaning back in his chair and putting his arms behind his head. “Everyone knows a bad boy only cares about his mother.” 

“Oh ho,” Win warbled. “Rule number one of being a bad boy is never ever calling yourself a bad boy.” He poked Bright in the chest.

Bright kicked him lightly in the leg. “You’re not a bad boy, so there’s no way you know the rules. Plus, bad boys don’t have rules.” He raised his brows as if he were saying ‘beat that’. 

Win laughed and their eyes met for a brief second before they both blinked and looked away. Win rubbed at the back of nick.

“Anyway,” Bright cleared his throat. “I have her to worry about so I’m going to take being safe more seriously. I hope it’s okay to ask if you can take me home every time we work together, even on some nights I work a little longer than you. My mom worries some of the city drivers might be in on it. It might be paranoid, but if it will make her a little less nervous for me, then I’ll do it. I know it’s an inconvenience-” 

Win held up his hand to stop Bright’s babbling. “It’s not. I don’t mind. I told you.” He shook his head and appeared contrite. “I feel sorry for just now understanding the feelings my sisters describe by just existing as women.”

Bright nodded, on the same wavelength. “Yeah.” He was thankful his mom always had his uncles and cousins to help look after her, but he hated that the world was such a place it was considered natural that a woman was unsafe. 

“There you two are!” A staff member snapped, appearing out of nowhere and startling Bright and Win who’d gotten lost in each other’s gaze again. “We’ve been looking for you. It’s time for your scenes. We’ve only got about 3 hours left of this light.” 

They hurriedly followed her out, grabbing their scripts and making sure their uniforms weren’t too crinkled as they left the break area.

Bright flapped his script at the set. “I wonder why they didn’t put in more kiss scenes. Looks like the ones we have will be filmed all on one day.” 

Win shrugged. “There isn’t even any hand holding. Do you think that’ll look weird?” 

“Well, I never really held hands in public with any of the people I dated, so maybe not. What about you?” He glanced over at Win, then frowned when he was silent for an extended amount of time. “You have dated, haven’t you?” 

“Once.” Win answered a bit shyly. “I don’t really date much.” 

Bright was surprised. Win was tall, wealthy, soft-spoken and gentle. What woman wouldn’t want him?

“Why?” Bright demanded.

Win blushed and shook his head. Symmetrical, doe-like eyes, a gently sloped and pointed nose, plump, pink lips. He’d also seen Win without his shirt and was jealous it was so hard for himself to build a body like that. It couldn’t be his looks. Maybe he was just shy, though he often didn’t seem it. 

“You’re gorgeous, you’re rich, kind, tall-” Bright listed. 

Win knocked him with an elbow, but he was smiling wide, a little dimple dancing at the side of his full lips. “It’s not about that, but thank you.” 

“Quiet on set!” an assistant called out and everyone got focused, though Bright did tap him with his elbow in return. They giggled like kids shushing each other while they went to their places.

The director grinned at them and called, “Save that energy for the camera!”