The tall boy is in his small old apartment sitting down with his laptop that he got as a gift from his friend on his knees sending his resume to every available offer he finds online.

Gulf is a very poor student who worked so hard to finish his studies and finally graduated from university as a software engineer, he was always the top student, no, it's more like he made sure to always stay at the top to get scholarship to be able to finish studying.

Since he was a child he have been suffering because of his parents, they actually divorced when he was only 8 years old and he was taken by his father who moved to live in Nonthaburi, he stayed with him for about 4 years or to be more accurate, the little kid lived almost alone at his father's place who comes back twice a week and whenever he did he was dead drunk and sometimes would even physically and verbally abuse the poor boy who ends up with bruises and puffy eyes from crying the next day.

When his father decided to get married again, he kicked out his son sending him to his mother's place back in Bangkok, Gulf was actually relieved since he loved his mother more in the first place but was completely shocked to find that his mother already has a lover, she was angry that her ex-husband pushed the kid at her but she couldn't do anything about it but to accept him.

His mother's place was small, having only one tiny bedroom, a tiny living room facing the kitchen and a small bathroom, Gulf had to sleep in the living room, even though the 12 years kid was shocked about his mother's lover, had hard time adapting to his school and surrounding but was still very happy living there because he felt safer and secure far away from his drunkard abusive father and also had the chance to eat breakfast and dinner with someone after 4 years of being lonely.

To be a good kid and showing how grateful to his mother who accepted him, Gulf started learning how to cook and do the cleaning and laundry when he comes home, he also studied hard to get good marks to make her proud of him.

As he grew older he started learning more and more skills from sewing, cooking all kind of dishes from French to American food, well he got the help from his best childhood friend Mild.

Gulf and Mild went to the same kindergarten and elementary school and was already close to each other but then Gulf had to go away for 4 years and when he came back they met again at the same middle school and they even became closer friends as Mild always supported and helped him he even took him to his house many times so Gulf could learn everything from the maid there since Mild is from a rich family.

The taller boy was thankful for having this amazing friend and felt so blessed, he even helped him finding a part-time job at a close café when he was only 15 years since Gulf really needed as much money as he could to buy necessary things like clothes not wanting to burden his mother.

One day, during his second year in high school, Gulf woke up to an empty house, he thought that his mother went out early for work so he quickly ate his breakfast cleaned around a bit and went out, by evening, after coming back from work, the tired boy found the house empty again, it was weird because usually his mother would be there with her lover who always reeks from smoking, being lovey-dovey until late during Friday nights but Gulf brushed it off thinking that his mother must have went to the other's house and also he had no means to contact her since he is still saving money to buy a phone so after taking a shower and eating a cup of noodles the brown eyed boy went to sleep.

Hearing loud bangs on the front door, Gulf jumped up from his sleep quickly wearing his shirt and rubbing his still sleepy eyes, he glanced at the clock to find that it was just 7 in the morning, the bangs got louder making him hurry and open the door

"good morning, how may I help you?" the innocent boy asked facing three big tall guys, one was very muscular and bold, one had a scar across his left cheek and one was in his early forties wearing some expensive clothes showing that he is the boss, he took off his black glasses and starred at the boy from down to up then smirked looking straight to his eyes

"you must be that bitch's son, dalf? Balf?"

"my name is Gulf"

"ah yes, whatever... *taking a paper out from his pocket* we came today to take our money that we owe you" the shocked young boy looked at the paper speechless, there, his mother's name was written next to a long number

"150,000,000 baht ?! (around 5 million dollar)" the full awaken boy shouted

"yes son, now go tell your mother to come out and give us our money back, it's already a week past the deadline so there will be 500,000 as interest" the boy froze there still in shock

"hurry up!!!" the old man shouted waking up the poor boy

"mo-mother is not here, I didn't see her since yesterday" the man started getting angry

"stop lying you filthy trash, step away" he pushed Gulf out making him fall outside while the others went inside trashing the place and shouting

"so she really ran away with her bastard lover" the boss said getting out he glared down to the scared boy who was still down not believing what's happening

"well since you mother ran away and left you, you pay her debt"

"I... I don't have any money, I swear I can barely afford buying food" the man in black got angrier holding the terrified boy by his collar

"listen to me you trash, I don't care what you do, you have to pay back all the money your mother took, I will be back tomorrow"

"I can't! How can I earn all that in one day?!"

"it's your problem, go steal, sell a kidney, sell your body, whatever, I want to find all the money tomorrow with the interest of course or my two friends will take a good care of you" he said as the other two stepped closer with their scary faces and evil glares that made the poor boy tremble none stop, he watched as the gang disappeared away.

Gulf quickly stood up and ran toward a public phone calling his mother's number but was shocked to find out that her number no longer exist which mean that she cancelled it, he went to her work place and learned that she had already quit since last week; the scared boy even went to her lover's house and his work place but no trace of them.

The tall boy sat at a close bench still disturbed and brokenhearted, he couldn't believe that his mother actually took money from some loan sharks and ran away with her lover leaving him to face all that alone, he trusted his mother, he loved her and did everything he could to make her happy and proud of him, he was even taking double shifts lately to earn extra money to buy her a birthday present.

"what should I do?" Gulf asked himself remembering that he needed to get 150 millions for tomorrow or he will surely get killed, that gang terrified him just their eyes made him tremble.

*********************

"omg! Gulf! What happened to you? You are drenched!!!" Mild who opened the door was greeted by his soaked wet trembling friend, he quickly led him to the shower and offered him some clothes

"what happened to you Gulf?" Mild asked his friend who were sitting in his room, Gulf who was overwhelmed by his emotions started crying unwillingly making Mild panic and hugged him calming him down

"she left me Mild... she ran away and let me deal with some loan sharks" the worried friend looked at him with wide eyes

"unbelievable"

"I know it is, but I can't find her anywhere, she even took all of her things and some gang came this morning wanting 150 million by tomorrow or they will kill me"

"no way, I won't let that happen to you Gulf, I'm here for you, it's going to be fine my friend" Mild kept patting on the crying boy.

*******************

"Thank you uncle, I promise I will work as hard as I can and repay you" Gulf thanked Mild's father and kept bowing, Mild decided to tell his father everything who was kind enough and offered to pay Gulf's dept so the loan shark wouldn't hurt him

"it's fine my son, you always have been a close friend to Mild and I know how kind and responsible you are and since I trust you, I will pay the dept for you so you can take your time paying me back"

"thank you so much and I'm so sorry for bothering you, I promise you I will pay you back" the old man smiled and patted on his shoulder

"please Gulf stop apologizing, I really consider you as my second son, concentrate on your studies for now and when you get a stable job in the future you can start paying me" Gulf shook his head

"I will start working now, I will drop school and find a job some-" he was cut off

"no! I won't allow you to drop school, without studying you won't be able to have a stable future so promise me that you will focus in school and even attend university, don't destroy your future because of money, I really care about you Gulf so it's fine to take your time" the poor pale boy started crying again while he was hugged by the kind uncle

"I own you my life uncle, I promise you that I will finish my studies and have a good job and repay all of your kindness" the old man smiled

"just keep being a good brother to my son"

"I always will"

Gulf was saved by this kind family but he still feel that he should pay them back, actually because of the suffer he have been through because of his parents, the brown eyed boy found himself unable to trust others, even though he still loves Mild and is grateful for him but deep inside he can't shake the feeling of insecurity thinking that maybe he will betray him too one day that's why he kept studying by day and working hard by night slowly paying off his dept.

He moved to a smaller apartment when he started university and got more jobs, any decent job he could find, be it a waiter, a tutor, a shop clerk, a cook, a farmer, he even learned some foreign languages by himself and worked as a translator and that slowly allowed him to pay about half the amount.

The poor boy had to deprive himself from every good thing, never going out, living only eating rice, omelet and noodles that made him have a thin body, not even buying decent clothes unless he needed them and he never had any time off studying and working from 8 in the morning to around midnight every single day for about 7 years. Now that he finally graduated, he needed to find a job as soon as he can to finish paying the rest of the money to be able to feel at ease after so many years.

"I wish to be free and enjoy life a little" the pale boy mumbled before going out to his next part-time. 

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As I promised he is the second chapter.

With this, you will be understand how the two boys will be feeling for the next chapters.

I hope you will enjoy reading this story ^^