Rain

He stood in his balcony, numb. It was not the first time he had been insulted, not the first time he was being insulted by P'Som, not the first time that he was treated like an imbecile, but the fact that it was the first time in front of P'Phayu, the man he was halfway in love with, that was debilitating. He didn't know how long he was there, until he heard the door open and turned around. "What are you doing here? Don't you have a date with P'Pai today?" he asked. "I told P'Phayu to tell him I am not coming." "Sky, you did not have to do that. You know I don't care about what P'Som said. It's not like it's the first time, right?" Rain said. "Rain, we both know that it hurts you every single time. Plus what was worse is that he said it in front of P'Phayu. I know you are trying to stay away from him, but is that what you honestly want? You have this huge thing for him, but you are pulling back, I don't know why," Sky said.

"Sky, I see how P'Phayu looks at me in the club. He is more than halfway in love with that person. But that person is not me. It is someone different he is looking at. That will never be me. I am too plain, too ugly, and like you said, definitely out of his league. And honestly, I never pegged him for someone who went for looks. Anyway, this discussion is going to be never-ending. Go, go meet P'Pai. Go and enjoy your date, okay?" Rain said, as he walked into his room and shut the door. He hoped beyond hope that Sky would go and leave him alone. He didn't want to start depending on Sky too much. Over the past months, after P'Pai and Sky had started dating, he had slowly started distancing himself from Sky. He didn't make a big deal of it. just small things here and there, doing his laundry before Sky could take it, making his meals if he came early or eating out before he came home, working on his homework and projects at the Uni labs or the library, trying not to come home as often as possible. And though he hadn't told Sky yet, with the help of P'Uea, one of the sweetest bartenders, and his boyfriend P'King, he had found a small apartment, that was very reasonably priced and very close to both Uni and P'Yok's bar. He had decided to look for something more soon, because he knew he could not continue working at a place where the love of his life came to make googly-eyes at someone else. And he didn't want to become a Theerpanayakul charity case. He knew the only reason he knew them was because of Sky and nothing else. He had sworn both P'Uea and P'King to secrecy, and because they were so fond of Rain, they had kept his secret well. Especially Uea, who really did understand what Rain was going through.

'Maybe it is time to move out,' Rain thought, as he heard the main door open and then close. Most of his stuff was already done in boxes. Since Sky was hardly home anymore, it was just so much easier for him. He went out and checked all around, in case Sky was maybe in his room or something. But there was pin-drop silence in the dorm room. He quickly called up P'Uea and P'King. He knew he would have to eventually face Sky, both at the job, and at the Uni, but that was for future Rain. The current Rain was just exhausted. P'Uea and P'King arrived pretty soon and they wasted no time in loading stuff in their car. Rain looked around the empty dorm that he had made into a home with Sky and felt a bit of nostalgia. He resolutely closed the door, and locked it, handing the key off to the dorm manager, and left with P'Uea and P'King.

"Is this too small for you Rain?" Uea asked, looking around. "No, no P'Uea. This is perfect. And it's just me, so I will be okay," Rain smiled at the older man. "Rain, can I ask you something?" "Of course P'King," Rain said. "Why don't you want to tell Sky about moving out? I thought you guys were close," King said. "Yes Phi. We are close. We grew up together, so we are close. As to why I don't want to tell him. Phi, we had a hard time growing up. And now that Sky has found P'Pai, I just don't want to be his burden anymore. He deserves more than that, more than me dragging him down," Rain said. Uea and King looked at each other. "Rain, we have already promised you that we will not tell anyone anything about you moving out. But I do hope that you will tell him yourself. Of course it is your decision, but this is just some advice. Just don't lose your friendship over this," Uea said. Rain nodded.

Phayu

"Nong Sky? What are you doing here?" Phayu asked, as he opened the door. "Isn't P'Pai here?" Sky said. "Who is it Yu? My Sky? Is all okay? Weren't you supposed to be with Rain?" Pai asked, walking in with two glasses of wine, which wobbled precariously when Sky just whirled into his arms. "Give it to me, you take care of Nong," Phayu said, taking the glasses from Pai. Pai took Sky towards the couch and sat down with him. "What is the matter my Sky?" "It's Rain Phi," Sky replied, looking sad. "Is he still upset about what happened at the party?" Phayu asked. "That's the problem P'Phayu. I don't know. Rain is moving away from me," Sky said. "What do you mean?" Pai asked. "It was the little things first. Doing homework on his own, not waiting for me to eat, coming home after either I had gone to bed, or knowing I was going to be with you P'Pai. Now he is physically withdrawing. He thinks I don't know Phi, but he has packed his stuff as if he is planning to move out. And Phi, you know the worst part?" Both Phayu and Pai shook their heads. "He has become quieter. More silent. Even at the Uni. What P'Som said is just the tip of the iceberg. Because I am with you, no one says anything to me. But Rain is fair game," Sky said, tears pouring down his cheeks.

"Looks like you are very close to Nong Rain," Phayu said. "Has P'Pai not told you about us P'Phayu?" Sky asked, wiping his tears. Phayu shook his head. "Rain and I were both abandoned by our families. We grew up in an orphanage. I was mostly pretty sickly as a child. Rain protected me all the time from getting bullied. When we were 11, he was almost stabbed, trying to save me from bullies in school. They cut him across his face Phi, when he tried to cover my face." "But I haven't seen a mark on his face?" Phayu asked, shocked. He was regretting thinking that Rain was just a silly kid with a crush on him. There was definitely something more there. "The scar has faded quite a bit Phi. He covers the rest with slight make-up. It's not that he is ashamed of it, but people just made a lot of fun of it. And it distressed me, so he started hiding it," Sky said.

"Was Som..," Phayu trailed off. "P'Som is the worst of the worst Phi," Sky said. "But why? I really don't understand," Pai said. "During Orientation, we were given a series of problems to solve. We had to compete with seniors. They were simple problems, first year level. Rain was pitted against P'Som. But he not only solved it faster than P'Som, he also got it right and P'Som got it wrong. Some of the seniors found that funny and laughed at him. It pricked his ego at that point. And he has been that way since," Sky said. "That seems a rather stupid reason to hate someone to this extent," Pai said. "It is. But there is nothing we can do," Sky said, smiling sadly. "Do you want me to talk to Som?" Phayu asked. "No Phi, please don't. He has a crush on you. If you speak up for Rain, he will hate Rain more. Please let us handle it on our own. We will figure it out on our own. Right now I am more worried about Rain moving away from me, than about P'Som's stupidity," Sky said.

"Sky, the only way to solve this is to go talk to him. C'mon, I will take you to him," Pai said. "Let me come with you," Phayu said. Sky nodded and the three of them left immediately. They were greeted with pin-drop silence. "Rain? Rain?" Sky called out. Phayu and Pai looked at each other. There was something very unnatural about the silence. Sky went to Rain's room and opened the door. Phayu and Pai immediately turned around at his gasp. "P'Pai! He is really gone!" Sky turned around with tears pouring down his face again. "Call him," Pai said. Sky immediately called Rain, but it went straight to voicemail. "Sky, we will ask Uncle Arm to figure it out. Let's go back, okay?" Pai said. Sky nodded and they rushed out again.

"He is at this location," Arm said, as their phones pinged with the location. They immediately got up to go meet Rain. "Wait," Vegas' voice stopped them. They turned around. Vegas walked in with Pete, Kinn and Porche. "If he is gone, give him his space. He may have a reason for it. You can't force someone. Wait to talk to him. Wait for him to talk to you," Vegas said. "Vegas is right. Give him time," Porche said. "There are many things you all don't know, and for that, you might have to open your heart, and wait for him to open his," Pete said. Phayu was shocked to see the sheen of tears in his Pa's eyes. "Pa? Are you crying?" "It's nothing lu. But I hope you will understand your heart soon," Pete said, as the four older men left.

Rain

Going to the club was something he really didn't want to do. But he couldn't hide forever. And right now, it was the job that was paying him best. And it was probably time to stop being a coward. P'Som's words had been usual, but they had affected him in a way he didn't even realise. His confidence had been shaken and now, thinking about dancing in front of P'Phayu was going to be the hardest thing he would do. When he entered the club, P'Yok greeted him. "Pete is waiting for you out back." Rain nodded and rushed back. "Uncle Pete?" he called out. Pete immediately got up and spread his arms wide. Rain looked at the spread arms for a moment and then into his eyes. Then he rushed into his arms and allowed himself to be enfolded into Pete's arms. "Little boy, are you okay? Sky said that you moved out," Pete said. "I had to. I am tired of feeling like his burden. He deserves to be happy with P'Pai. He always had it so hard you know?" Rain said. "And you didn't? We know everything about you, remember?" Pete said. "I am nothing. I am just an air-headed and spaced out little boy, who dreamt about being with someone way out of his league. And when that person liked me back, he didn't like me, he liked a persona that I had created. How can I trust that kind of love? That is not even mine to begin with," Rain said sarcastically.

"Rain, you are one of the best people I know. You are the sweetest and most genuine person. Sky told us how you and he are both recipients of one of the highest awards in the Uni freshmen can receive. You are an amazing dancer and you are beautiful. You deserve the best a person can get. And if my stupid son can't see the gem you are, then it's his loss. He never deserved you at all. And Rain, never underestimate yourself. You are way more than you think you are, okay? Believe me," Pete said. Rain nodded. "Thank you Uncle Pete. You guys are seriously the best. I can't believe how much you have done for me. Even if it is because I am Sky's friend, I am still grateful to you guys," Rain said, his eyes sheening over with tears. Pete looked shocked. "Rain? is that what you think? That we care for you because of Sky?" Pete asked. "Yes? I mean.. no? I don't know?" Rain was staring at Pete. "Rain, is that what you have thought all this while?" Pete sounded heart broken. Rain shook his head, now thoroughly confused.

"Rain, you silly boy, we like you because you are you. Our little sunshine boy. Always so happy inspite of all the things you have seen and survived. Rain, did you know, before you came into our lives, we were really leading a pretty maudlin life. Our life was dark, knowing what we are. We don't trust easily; we don't care for people easily. But you changed all that. To be really honest, it was you who broke the walls around us first, not Sky. And I think even Sky would agree to that. Pai told us how it was you who encouraged Sky to meet us in the first place. Rain, baby, whether or not you choose to come into Phayu's life, you are still going to be Vegas and my son, okay?" Pete said. Rain nodded, unable to utter a word. He was speechless in the face of the love he had received.

"Okay, now get ready and enjoy yourself. Dance your heart out. Do what you love, okay?" Pete said. Rain nodded again. "Thank you Uncle Pete," he said, and hugged him again. Pete left soon after. Rain began the long process of prepping his skin just as Sig and Por walked in, Sky right behind them. "Hey Nong!" Sig called out. "Hey guys!" Rain said, smiling. "Rain, are you okay after what happened yesterday?" Por asked. Rain looked at Por through the mirror. "I am fine guys. Seriously. It's not the first time he has said something like this, right?" he laughed. "Rain..," Sky began. "I am fine Sky! Jing! C'mon you guys, get ready for your make-up. And prep your faces like I have taught you," he said, before anyone could say anything else.

They nodded and got to work. Soon they were all dressed. Rain wore a gorgeous pink gown, slitted on one leg, almost to mid-thigh, bare on one shoulder and a long flowing sleeve on the other. he attached a pink wig and a beautiful smoky eye effect with bright pink lipstick. He added stilettoes and a pink fan. He looked startlingly gorgeous.