Pete watched in horrified silence as his older son systemically beat down the man they had captured yesterday. He knew Venice had inherited much of his father's tendencies, but he also had a lot of Pete in him. It was very unlike Ven to just beat the shit out of someone. Torture, yes, but this kind of relentless persecution? Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that he would actually ever have to stop Ven from doing something. Venice and Rome were twins, fraternal in everything, including looks and comportment. Venice had always taken his role of being the oldest Theerpanayakul in the youngest generation far too seriously. He rarely showed emotions, guarded to the point of loneliness. Rome was the exact opposite, maybe that's why his boyfriend was just like his father and brother.

He turned to his younger son who was watching along with him. "Get him out of there and cleaned up. And then both of you come see me," he said, not waiting for a response and turning away, phone in hand. This was an emergency, and the whole family needed to be there to discuss this. He had just settled into Vegas's and Kinn's office, since it was the bigger one, when the others walked in. "Why the SOS?" Vegas asked, walking upto his husband of 30 years and kissing him on his forehead, and then his pulse points, as he was always wont to do, family be damned. Pete repeated the gesture before asking everyone to sit. He pulled up Venice's video on screen. Chay let out a strangled sound at the massacre, and the others watched in dismayed fascination at what was happening.

"What the hell is this?" Porche asked, sounding appalled. "He nearly beat him to death," Kim said, trying not to sound proud and failing miserably. Pete glared at him. "This is very unlike Venice," Kinn said, still staring at the screen. Pete snapped the screen shut when there was movement outside the door. Venice and Rome walked in, along with Phoenix and Chai. "What's up? Why did you need to see me?" Venice asked, waiing to the elders as the others repeated the gesture. "So, would you like to tell us what is happening, or will we have to bamboozle you into confessing?" Pete asked, staring at his sons. "It's nothing Pa," Venice began but Rome cut him off. "Actually, he has been like this since the day he asked Rain to stop coming to the garage," Rome said, simply thrilled to put his Phi in the crosshairs.

"Rain? Who is Rain?" Pete asked, and Venice continued to glare at Rome. "Is he the cute boy from the races?" Chai asked. Venice glared at him but didn't say anything still. "Venice, are you going to tell me of your own accord, or do I have to put Arm on the job?" Vegas asked, patience running thin. He didn't have much of it to begin with, but Venice was really annoying him. "Yes, the cute boy from the races, he is also my code line junior, and I am fucking in love with him, okay?" Venice said, suddenly shouting, and standing up. Pete was about to chastise him for the language, then he saw his son's face. There was something there, and Pete needed to get to the bottom of it. "Ven, please tell us everything, okay? Let's help you," he said.

Pete was alarmed when Venice just slumped back on the sofa, looking beyond defeated. "I was driving back one night from the races when I saw a car on the side of the road. The back tire was gone, and I helped the boy change it. Despite the fact that it was raining, the boy got down and held an umbrella over me. He even called me handsome. Something about him, just.." Venice trailed off, collecting his thoughts. "I left then, but I really regretted not taking his number at that time. Later, I came to know that he is my codeline junior. I even met him at the codeline dinner and I.. well, I kind of damaged his car. To my credit, it really needed repairs."

"Then what happened?" Pete asked, worried where this was going. Venice didn't usually sound like this, so lost, so besotted. "I took him to the crash pad and..," Venice trailed off again. "Oh my God! You did not!" Porche said. "Venice! What the fuck did you do?" Pete asked, and Venice flinched. Pete rarely, if ever, cussed, and if he was doing so now, that meant he was really pissed. "Pa I..," he trailed off again. "Venice, I think you should think twice before speaking. Don't even think about lying!" Vegas said, sounding livid. "Please tell me that it was at least consensual," Rome asked, looking a little pissed himself. "Umm.. no.. But I stopped," Venice said, sounding irritated. "And that excuses your behaviour?" Pete asked. Venice hated it whenever Pete's voice this tone of voice. Anger was fine, but this disappointed tone killed him.

"No. No, it doesn't," he said, head in his hands. "Then? Then what happened?" Chai asked. "I repaired the car, and he didn't meet me when he came to collect it," Venice said. "He was the one?" Rome asked. Venice nodded. "So I went to the Uni. He has a habit of using bad language, so I just wanted to tease him. And in the Uni, I again did something I shouldn't have. It was after I left that I realised that he was probably in a sub drop. Then he came to the races, and I pulled him out andspankedhim," Venice said, words garbling together at the end. "I beg your pardon?" Vegas asked, having perfectly understood his son the first time. "I spanked him, okay? I was angry, and upset, and scared as hell! What did you want me to do?" Venice said, hanging his head now. "Then what happened?" Kinn asked.

"He challenged me that he will make me fall for him in 30 days. I let him, because I like him too. But a week ago, he was with me and we went to dinner. He stayed up late trying to finish a project and didn't wake up in time to submit it. He came to the garage, to look for me, and Rome asked me to come back. After he was feeling okay, I told him not to come there anymore, cause I wanted him to focus on his studies. He left and hasn't showed up since. No visits, no messages, no calls, nothing! It's like he is not even there in my life anymore; like he never existed. I just..," Venice trailed off and everyone looked at each other.

"And did you try to reach out to him?" Porche asked. Venice shook his head. "Why not?" Kim spoke up from the door, where he leaned at first when he had come in. "Because I am scared I will become weak. I want him to focus on his studies, and achieve success," Venice said, his frustration showing. "Do you want him to become you? Do you think he is not worthy enough to stand by you? Or do you think he is not good enough?" Pete asked, anger at the forefront. He had never thought he would ever feel this emotion with his sons, especially with Venice. Out of all the children in the Theerpanayakul family, in the new generation, Venice had it the hardest. Not only was he the oldest, but circumstances had also made it so that he would be the one leading from the forefront. While both Phoenix and Rome stood side by side with him, and he would get the support of his younger cousins as well, Venice would be in the line of fire.

But he was not the first person in the family to fall in love, and neither would he be the last. Pete was afraid that this sense of responsibility that he had, this utmost need for perfection, it had killed the boy's intent before it had even begun. "Of course not! He is perfect the way he is," Venice sounded outraged. "Then what do you want from him? Ven, all of us here have managed two lives or more at the same time; and that includes you. Are you saying that this boy can't? Then maybe you are better off without him," Vegas said. "Dad! That's not what I meant. Rain can do anything he puts his mind to. It's just that I don't want to disturb him," Venice said. "So then what are you going to do?" Rome asked. "That's what I don't know," Venice said, sounding so despondent that his family's heart ached for him. "Why don't you give him a call?" Chai asked. "Chai is right. Don't let your ego be bigger than your need for this boy, lest you lose him," Kim said, with a knowing ache in his voice, as stared at his own husband.

Venice immediately pulled out his phone, knowing his uncle was absolutely right. But the phone was disconnected immediately. He stared at it, a bit surprised. Then he sent a message, and that showed him that the user had blocked him. He slumped back once again as Rome took the phone from him and stared at it. "Someone actually had the guts, from Chula, where he is God of Architecture, to block Phayu Saengtham? What audacity!" Rome said, barely able to control his laughter. "Phi Chaai, it looks like you finally pissed off the wrong person. I am so glad someone is treating you this way. You have been a dick long enough, and you deserve this." Rome got up and left the room, leaving shocked family members behind him. Chai excused himself and ran after his boyfriend.

Sky looked at the bent head of the most important person in his life. It had been almost a week, and it seemed like Rain had still not recovered from the dressing down he had received for the late submission of the project. He exchanged looks with their other friends, and it was clear to him that they all felt the same. Rain had never taken this long to bounce back from things like these, so it seemed almost abnormal to them. For Sky, seeing Rain this way, was a literal blow to the heart. After all that he had been through, Rain was his sunshine and rainbows, and he loved Rain with an intensity that couldn't match anything. Rain had become his everything, and Sky was not comfortable with this Rain.

But although everyone thought Rain was despondent because of what the Ajarn had said, Sky was pretty sure that was not the reason. Even Ple had commented on it. "It's not like Rain to take the words of the Ajarn to heart. I mean, it's not like it was the first time, nor is it, knowing Rain, going to be the last." Rain was brilliant, they all knew that. But he tended to lose focus fast. Or that's what they had thought. But this one week had made them change their minds and Sky was hell bent on getting to the bottom of this mystery. He gestured towards Rain, and the others quickly gave him a thumbs-up.

"So, Rainy, you okay?" Sky asked, making Rain look up. "I am fine, why?" he asked. "Rainy, we all know you are not fine. You have been miserable this past one week. And we also know it has nothing to do with what the Ajarn said last time," Ple said, getting straight to the point. "Nothing is wrong. I am seriously fine, I promise," Rain said, his hitching breath a clear indication that he was lying through his teeth. "Rainy, you are the person we trust most in this world. Seeing you happy is the most important thing for us. Tell us, please? I am sure we can find a solution," Sky said. Sig sidled close. "Rainbow, you are sad, and it's really obvious, okay? Maybe we can help you, maybe we can't, but believe me, telling us will help you reduce your burden," he said, putting an arm around the boy who was like his younger brother.

Rain looked around at his group. He knew they all knew Phayu, so he was a bit reluctant to share what he thought of him, what had happened between them. His heart hurt at the thought of losing his friends. How could he tell them what had happened? How could he tell them about the challenge? How could he tell them what had happened prior between him and Phayu? And would they even believe him? "Rain, does this have anything to do with P'Phayu?" Por asked, and Rain looked at him in horror. "How do you know?" he whispered. "It's been kind of obvious Rain. The guy sought you out in the Uni. After he left, you were a wreck. You said stuff about him in front of P'Som, and then suddenly you went silent. We are not dumb. Over and above that, we are your best friends. We love you, and we understand you," Ple said.