Liam's Pov

Awkward.

The entire ride to Ruby's house was awkward.

Pravat didn't say anything. He just sat in the back in silence. He stared out the window with an unreadable expression plastered on his face.

Ruby never removed her eyes from the road, making sure that we didn't crash into anything or anyone.

I'm grateful for that. Especially since she knows what caused my death in the first place.

Nampheung was still unconscious, which was good since none of us wanted her to wake up and freak out.

Pretty sure I freaked her out enough when I plunged a needle into her and sedated her.

I tried to calm myself by putting on my headphone and listen to music, but that didn't really work.

So, I just fell asleep in hopes that once I woke up we would already be at Ruby's house.

And I was right.

Because once I woke up Ruby had parked her car in front of her mothers house.

The three of us got out of the car as Pravat carried Nampheung bridal style. Ruby locked her car and made sure to scan the area before gesturing us to follow her inside.

I don't think we have to worry about someone following us.

After all, Pravat and I made sure that we were 100% in the clear when getting Nampheung out of the compound.

Besides, Ruby's mom lives in the woods and, from what I've read about this particular area of the woods, nobody ever steps foot in it.

So, we should be in the clear.

Ruby's mom, Ms. Kraisee, greeted us at the entrance.

She was surprised and suspicious when she saw Pravat, but Ruby and I reassured her that he was also apart of this.

She calmed down after that and, quite easily, took Nampheung into her arms and gestured for us to follow her into the room she set up just for my adoptive mother.

I was in slight awe since the room she prepared was almost similar to an actual hospital room.

But, then again, she is a nurse so I shouldn't be surprised.

Ms. Kraisee told us that she would have to examine Nampheung and run some tests and to do that she needed to be alone. She politely told us to leave the room and wait for her to report back to us in the living room.

We agreed and left the room so she could work in peace.

Ruby led us to the living room and told us to wait while she prepared us some coffee.

Pravat and I sat on the couch in awkward silence. Neither of us said anything since we didn't really know what to say.

We didn't know where to start.

Things were already awkward between us before we left the compound and after.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Pravat slowly open his mouth, ready to speak, when Ruby entered the living room.

She had two mugs in her hands and handed them to us.

We thanked her and watched as she took a seat across from us, taking out a chocolate bar from her jacket pocket.

"So, do either of you want to explain how this happened?" Ruby asked.

Of course she wants to know how Pravat ended up catching me in the act.

Pravat and I glanced at each other before looking back at Ruby. 

"Long story short. I wasn't quiet nor discreet when leaving the room I share with him and he woke up and followed me when he noticed I was gone" I explained.

"Yeah that pretty much sums it all up" Pravat chuckled.

Ruby glanced between us before sighing as she pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Honestly Liam" she sighed out.

I frowned at that and sheepishly looked down at my shoes.

Honestly I can understand where she's coming from since she thought I would be smart enough to not get caught.

But just look at how that turned out.

"Look, that's not what's important right now" Pravat said.

He turned to me and raised an eyebrow at me.

"You promised to tell me everything I want to know. That includes who that woman was and why she was in that room" Pravat sternly said.

Oh...

Right...

I forgot about that...

I was honestly hoping that he would leave it alone but it looks like I was wrong.

I sighed and looked over at Ruby who was looking at me in concern. Like she knew that I had to tell the truth.

I knew that too because there's no way I can lie to Pravat.

One thing you need to know about Pravat is that he's good at reading people. Which means he's good at knowing when someone is lying.

And if he finds out I tried to lie to him, no doubt he's gonna go to Korn and tell him everything.

And the last thing I want is to lose his trust or his friendship.

"Look, Pravat, what I'm going to tell you cannot leave this room. What I say has to stay between you and I" I told him.

He furrowed his eyebrows together and frowned at that.

"Why can't I tell anyone?" Pravat asked in confusion.

Because I'll end up dying before having the chance to make things right for everyone to get their happy ending.

But, I can't say that. Not yet, at least.

Ruby, having sensed that I was a little uncomfortable, sat up straighter on the couch and spoke for me.

"Because what Liam has to say is important. He has information that anyone in that family you and him work for would want to know. He knows more than anyone and if that gets out, he can be in serious danger" Ruby explained.

She's right.

And there's no way to sugercoat it either.

Because if the main or minor family find out my secret, find out that I know practically everything, especially Korn, I'll be killed in an instant.

And I refuse to let that happen. I can't let that happen.

I refuse to die. Not until I make things right and give everyone the happy endings they deserve.

Pravat's frown deepened at that as he stared at her for a second longer before locking eyes with me again.

He pressed his lips together when he saw the look in my eyes. I was practically begging him to agree. Begging him to promise that he won't tell anyone.

It took a minute before Pravat let out a sigh and nodded his head.

"Alright, fine. I promise" he finally said.

Ruby and I relaxed at that, our shoulders slumping in relief.

Pravat sighed before leaning back against the couch. He crossed his arms and raise an eyebrow at me, waiting for me to talk.

I gulped slightly and shifted slightly in my seat.

The way he sits and the way he looks at me is the same way dad looked at me whether I got in trouble or when I tried bribing him to give me money.

Mom was the one that scared me the most. She was the boss of dad and I.

But I won't lie when I say that dad did have his moments where he was scary.

Maybe not as scary as mom but still scary.

"Alright. Well, I guess it's best for me to start at the beginning..." I trailed off.

And when I say the beginning, I mean the beginning.

Starting with how I appeared here in the first place.

A Few Hours Later

"Wait, wait, wait, wait. Let me get this straight" Pravat started.

Something that I am not.

"You're telling me that your name is Liam Santiago and you're from a world where all of this is simply just a BL series. You got into a car accident and instead of dying you ended up here as Liam Kittitsawat" Pravat listed off.

Ruby and I glanced at each other before looking back at him.

"Pretty much" I nodded.

"And that woman is Nampheung Kittisawat. Porsche and Chay's mother, your adopted mother. She's been alive this entire time and was hiding in that secret room?" he asked.

"Yep" I nodded.

Pravat's eye were wide as hell and his shoulders slumped while his back made contact with the couch.

He let out a huge shaky breath he had been holding in for quite a while. 

"Holy shit" he managed to choke out.

"Holy shit indeed" Ruby chuckled, taking a sip of her beer.

She had gotten the three of us some beer since she knew we would need it.

And she wasn't wrong.

Pravat's head snapped in her direction before he looked at me, pointing a finger at her.

"And she knew way before me? Before anyone else?" he asked.

"Yes" I replied.

"Does her mother know?" Pravat asked.

"Li and I only told her half the truth. Not including that Li is from a world where all of this is just a series" Ruby told him.

Pravat seemed to calm down slightly at that. But I can tell he was still trying to process all of this. 

I frowned and, quite hesitantly, placed my hand on his shoulder.

"Pravat, are you alright?" I softly asked.

"Am I alright?" he laughed in disbelief.

He shook his head and made eye contact with me. He looked exhausted.

"Honestly. I'm gonna need some more beer after this" he chuckled, shaking his head.

I don't blame him.

I'm pretty sure we all need more than one beer.

"What do you think about all of this?" Ruby asked.

"Honestly, it's a ton of bullshit if you ask me" Pravat scoffed, rolling his eyes.

I flinched at that and removed my hand from his shoulder, shifting in my seat.

Ruby glared at Pravat for saying that and opened her mouth to defend me, but stopped when Pravat raised his hand to stop her.

She raised an eyebrow at him but let him continue.

"But, I believe you. Both of you" he said.

Now that caught me off guard.

I honestly thought he would've called us crazy but he's pretty confident in us.

"What? Really?" I asked, looking at him with wide eyes.

"Yes" he nodded.

"Why? I mean, anyone in your position would've believed that this was all crazy or made up" Ruby raised an eyebrow at him.

"Well, if you believe him and you're helping him that certainly means he's not lying" Pravat said.

Ruby hummed at that before taking a sip of her beer.

Pravat spared her a glance before turning back to look at me.

"And, everything adds up. It explains how you knew about that assassin that was trying to kill Mr. Kinn and it explains how you knew the exact room where Porsche would be at after he was drugged the night of the auction" Pravat told me.

Well, when he puts it like that...it does make sense.

And I should've known that he would've connected the dots sooner or later.

I simply nodded at him while Pravat sighed.

"Liam, who else knows about this?" Pravat asked.

"Nobody other than Ruby. Her mother too, if you count her only knowing half the truth" I told him.

Pravat sighed as he ran his hand through his hair and grabbed his beer bottle and began chugging on it.

I honestly can't blame him since this is a ton to process.

But, at least he believes me so that's definitely better than nothing.

When he was done with the beer bottle he set it back down on the ground. He clasped his hands together and leaned forward slightly.

"Alright. I'll keep your secret" he told me.

I sighed in relief while Ruby bummed and nodded her head.

I'm happy to know that he won't rat me out. Nor is he going to rat out Ruby.  

I don't care what would happen to me. But, if Ruby or her mom got hurt, or died, because of me I'll never be able to forgive myself.

"Thank you, Pravat. You're the best" I smiled.

"Hey, you're my friend and after everything you've just told me, I don't want you getting killed because of this" he explained.

Good to know what's at stake.

I'm glad to know that despite being a bodyguard, despite working for the main family for a while, despite being loyal to them, he'd never rat me out.

He believes me, he trusts me and he cares about me.

And that's all I needed. 

"However, I do want something else in return for my silence" he said.

"And that would be...?" Ruby asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

Pravat glanced at her before looking back at me.

He leaned back against the couch and crossed his arms over his chest.

"I want in" he said.

And that was when I not only had two people on my side, but three.

And honestly, I don't know how to feel about that.