"There is something bleak and barren about the world that is missing the person who knows you best."

Chula Uni –

"How do we just leave him like that?" Yihwa asked, her eyes filled with tears, as they all stood at the door of the dance room and watched Rain dance like a madman. Tears were pouring down his face, his expression was bleak, his shattered heart clearly reflected on it. Sky had told them all what had happened, and they had been shocked and devastated for Rain. His pain was a living, tangible entity in the room with them, and it was so hard for them to see him like this. Suddenly, Sky's phone rang. "It's P'Pai," he said, and Rain stopped mid swirl and whirled around. Before Sky could do anything, Rain snatched the phone. "How is he? Did he wake up?" he asked, his voice breaking. "Not yet Rain. I told you, you will be the first to know when he does. I promise you," Pai said.

"Then why did you call Phi?" Rain asked, his heart clenching. "Papa P wants you to come to the hospital. The family plans to do merit, and they want you to do it with them," Pai said. "Why didn't you call me then Phi?" "I tried Rain, but you didn't pick it up. Anyway, please be in front of the Performing Arts building in 10 minutes, I will be there," Pai added. "Khap Phi. Can Sky come along?" he asked. "Of course Rain. If you are comfortable having your friends around, please bring them along," Pai told him. "Guys, I need to go to the hospital. Do you want to come with?" Rain asked, packing his things in a hurry, not even bothering to see if the others were ready or not. But when he walked out, all his friends came out behind him. Pai waited at the front of the building, leaning on his car when the group walked out. He immediately straightened and the whole group, except Rain and Sky, waiied to him. "Rain, Sky, you both go with P'Pai. We will follow in your car Ai'Sky," Sig said.

Bangkok City Hospital –

Rain and Sky nodded and left with P'Pai. They all reached the hospital at the same time. Just as they were walking towards the room, Rain suddenly stumbled. "Ai'Rain!" Sky shouted, just as Sig and he caught Rain, before he fell to the ground. "Phi, he hasn't eaten anything since the morning. He was waiting for your call. I am pretty sure, the last thing he ate was when we stopped for snacks on our way back," Sky said. "Okay, no worries. Get him to Phayu's room. I will get something for him to eat, and for all of you," Pai said, stroking Rain's head, extremely worried about him. Sky nodded and they all made their way to Phayu's room.

As soon as they entered, Pete and Type rushed towards them. "What happened? What happened to Rain?" both cried out in fear, seeing Rain being held by Sky and Sig. "He is tired and hungry, Pa, Uncle Pete," Sky said. "P'Pai has gone to get food for him. Please don't worry," he continued. Pete and Type took over from Sky and Sig as they held Rain and helped him to the sofa. As soon as they sat, Pai came in with parcels of food. "I bought sandwiches for all of you, and congee for Rain. I thought it would be easier for him, easier for us to feed him, right?" he said. Pete nodded distractedly, as Type quickly opened the packet and started feeding him. "Once he eats something, he will be better Type, I am sure," Pete said. "Yeah, I know, I am worried about him Pete. He is taking this far too hard. I don't know how to console him," Type's eyes filled with tears. "Pa," Rain spoke up. "I am okay. I will be better when P'Phayu wakes up, I promise," Rain said softly. "And, I can eat by myself. Rain sabaidee Pa, Pa Pete, jing," Rain said, trying to convince everyone, but knowing he wasn't fooling anyone.

"Rain, we called you here, because we want to do merit for Phayu, as a family. Your Dad and Dad Vegas will be here soon," Pete said. "Where are they?" he asked. "Dad is at work. I had fewer appointments, so I could come as soon as Pete called," Type said. "Dad Vegas is with Kinn and Kim. They are handling some business. They will meet us directly at the temple," Pete said. "Where will we go to do merit Uncle Pete?" Sky asked. "There is a temple, that has been in the Theerpanayakul family for generations. Since centuries, prayers have been offered there. It has always been very important to us. So that's where we will go," Pete said. "But if all of us go, who will take care of P'Phayu?" Rain asked. "Arm and Pol. They are our bodyguards. They will keep Phayu safe when we are not here, as well as keep us informed if there are any changes," Pete said.

Pakin's warehouse, Bang Rak, around the same time –

"I am going to kill Pat!" Vegas said, sounding feral. "What do you need us to do Vegas? Just let us know," Kinn said. "Right now, we need to get to the temple. Everyone will be waiting for us," Vegas replied. "You should take a shower before you go Khun Vegas. You are covered in blood," Pakin said. Vegas looked down and saw that his shirt was covered in blood and some other matter. "Good idea Pakin," Porche said. "Yeah, good idea indeed. I will be back in 10. Do you still have some of our stuff lying around here Pakin?" Vegas asked. "Yes Khun Vegas. Chai will get it for you," he said, bowing to his bosses. Vegas left to freshen up. "Kinn? What are we going to do about Pat? Like seriously? We need to find him as soon as possible. Because what I feel is that he cannot be the only mastermind behind this. From what I know of him, he doesn't have the brains to do such convoluted planning," Kim said to his brother. "I agree with Kim. It's not that he doesn't have brains, but this level of intricate planning? Not from his head," Porche said.

"What are you guys talking about?" Vegas asked, as he walked back into the room. "We need to find Pat and the real mastermind," Porche said. "That's what we were talking about," he added. "We will do that. I have promised Pete, that I will find those who hurt our child, have no doubts about that Porche. But for now, we need to go. Pete sent a message. Apparently, Rain almost fainted. So they are just making sure he eats before they come to the temple. Let's go," he said. "What happened to Rain?" Porche asked, worried. "Fatigue and worry. Luckily it happened at the hospital. The doctor said he was fine, just needed to eat something. They are on their way," Vegas said.

Thxng Wat, an hour later –

In some time, multiple cars drew up in front of a large, old temple. The Theerpanayakul family, the Kirigun family, Sky and Rain's group of friends, all got down. The younger group all waiied to the other members they had not seen. "Rain? How are you feeling little one?" Vegas asked, hugging the boy close. "I am fine Dad Vegas. Feeling better now," Rain replied, smiling and hugging Vegas back. "Come, come, let's go. We must do the formalities as soon as we can. We need to go back to Phayu," Pete said. They entered the ancient Wat, feeling the spiritual atmosphere create a sense of peace in their hearts.

Pete handed food, water and flowers to Rain, to give to the monk. Then Vegas and he did the same, followed by the rest of the family. Then they all poured the water for purification dedicated to the monk. Rain did the ceremony last, and just as Rain was about to be done, the monk stopped chanting and looked at him. "Your heart is heavy, and your mind troubled," he said. Rain looked up in surprise. "What you have lost is not a new relation, it's a connection of the past, entwined in your soul, leaving you bleak and barren," the monk continued. "What do you mean Holy Monk?" Pete asked. Surprise was etched on the face of every person present there. "He is tied to another soul with the red thread of destiny, a bond so strong, so unbreakable, that not even death can separate them," the monk said, keeping his eyes on Rain. He then beckoned Rain closer.

Rain went closer. The monk kept his hand over Rain's head, without touching him. "A connection of the heart, of the mind, of the soul, a connection that will not even sever in death, giving the power of defeating death," he intoned. "Sadhu!" everyone present there said at the same time, sealing the monk's blessing with an 'Amen'. Rain bowed down in front of the monk and in front of the powerful statues of the Wat, with just one thought running through his head, 'He must wake up because I can't and won't live without him!'

Bangkok City Hospital –

Rain was silent his entire journey back to the hospital. Pai and Sky were troubled with Rain's silence, but they were too afraid to ask him anything. Rain looked so fragile at that moment, that they were afraid that even one word could shatter him. They realised that until Phayu came out of danger, Rain would stay in this delicate state. As soon as they reached the hospital, Rain quickly ran towards Phayu's room. "P'Arm, P'Pol? Any updates?" he asked, his anxious eyes searching for any changes that had happened in the time he hadn't been there. "Nothing yet, Nong'Rain. Nothing so far," Arm said, trying to calm the boy down. Rain went and sat next to Phayu, stroking his face and hair with one hand and holding onto the other. He put his head down on Phayu's once again, sub-consciously taking the same position he had taken yesterday. "P'Phayu khap, the monk said that we have a connection. I can't live without you, you know. Shivit phom, you are the one for me. My one and only. So you have to come back soon. You know, I danced a lot today. My legs were hurting, but I didn't give up. Because you have always asked me to keep going on, no matter what happens, right?"

Arm and Pol went out, leaving Rain with Phayu, knowing Rain would take good care of Phayu, without faltering. Rain seemed like someone who very weak, but as Sky used to say, 'Never judge a book by its cover.' He was someone who would constantly surprise. Those who looked at him and called his fragile, were on the road to a rude awakening. Rain was strong and had an extremely positive outlook in life. He always looked on the bright side of things. Now also, he kept stroking Phayu's head, telling him what all had happened during the day. "Phi, how long are you going to lie down so quietly? You should get up and tease Rain na? Phi khitteung! I am telling you Phi. Dad V and Pa P are so worried. I am also worried. We went and did merit for you in the family temple. I did too. Does that mean I am family?" Rain kept up a constant banter.

All of a sudden, he felt something press on his fingers. It was the lightest of touches, more like a whisper of a movement, but he immediately looked at his hand and then at Phayu's face. He didn't see anything, but he felt the press again. He stood up, trying to look more closely at the machines and at Phayu. He removed the hand stroking Phayu's face and hair and placed it on his heart instead, trying to match the rhythms of his heart to Phayu's. "Phi," he called softly. "Phi, come back to me na khap? Na? Na?" he cajoled. Just then, much to the surprise of everyone present there, a soft whisper could be clearly heard. "Rain," Phayu breathed.