It was a normal night in R. S. Mental Asylum despite housing a famous former mafia ring leader who had been kept here since last six month for mental health analysis.

The doctors did a routine check- up before retiring for the night. The caretakers provided each patient with meals and collected the plates back, the guards checked the rooms for any abnormal findings before stationing themselves on their regular spots of patrolling.

At exact 11 o'clock the lights of each room were dimmed, the resident patients of asylum were meant to be fast asleep . And they were so.

Night guards were relaxed now, their minds lulled in to a sense of safety by regularity of their duty and absence of any unusual sightings or findings. All except one...

Svet Shanguat was among the guards, but he was anything but relaxed, since the day the mafia leader had been brought at asylum, he had been alert like a soldier at border. Expecting breach of peace, every next second.

His gut feeling told him, something was amiss, although everything looked same. Whole round to every nook and corner of ground floor revealed nothing abnormal.
He decided to lay his worries and relax his mind with a quick smoke. It definitely didn't fit in the rules, but weren't rules servant to convenience of human?

Fate is indeed a fickle thing! It gives you warning, even premonition but rarely a second chance.

After his smoke, Svet rounded the perimeter of balcony and marched toward his station - Ground floor. His ears perked up, pulse accelerated hearing rhythmatic thudding of boots, Svet checked his watch - it was 1 AM. It was highly unlikely that any official came to visit,not unless it was an emergency.

" Stop " Svet took a split second decision to show himself .

" Police intelligence " The green clad man showed the ID, four equally built officers stood behind him.

" Come " Svet guided them to administrator's office who immediately cleared them seeing the official documents.

It was decided that Svet would accompany the officials to the interrogation and return with their patient.

But the dawn saw his dead body, thrown at the side of the road. Although the mafia leader was returned, miamed but alive.

--------

Knot had been making his morning ( actually dawn - 4 A.M. coffee) when his phone beeped.

'Lee escaped... '

He called Svet but the man didn't pick up, not even after twenty fifth try. Frustrated and panicked, Knot ran his fingers through his hairs, he was still contemplating his next move when the phone beeped, an unknown number flashed on the screen. It contained a link to the tabloid news which mentioned Svet's death.

According to the sources, rival gang had attacked the van bringing back the mafia leader 'Sukhoi Supol ', the guard, Svet, along with three police personnel got killed while guarding the mafia leader.

'They are planning something big ' , Svet's report rang like a warning bell in his head.
Scrolling through his contacts, he dialled his security head " Check on Arthit , Bright and Tutah. "

Next, he dialled Phi Win, security head of Chanaguns " Lee had escaped, it's not official yet. "

" Noted " Came the reply, an ex-war veteran, Phi Win wasn't someone to be disturbed by these kind of things.

But, Knot wasn't war hardened, his sleep had evaporated like water droplets on hot pan. All he was waiting was for the confirmation from his security sources.
....

The confirmation, he was waiting for did come three hours later. It only mounted to his worries rather than easing them.

Lee was still in his alloted room in the asylum. Nothing changed at asylum except the vacant seat of the Ittikorn spy.

Knot decided to meet Svet's family and take responsibility of Shanguat household.

" Phi Win... " He was surprised to see Win visiting personally.

" I reckon you already heard... " Came the reply.

" Yes, Lee is still at the asylum. " Words felt like Sand in his mouth, foreign and unpleasant.

" It doesn't add up " Win was ever indifferent " Supol returns, Lee is not moved, only three police officers known for being encounter specialist and our source is killed. I have asked around, there's nothing much evidence of ambush on van or the occupants. A few bullet wounds here and there -mostly grazing and primary wounds - nothing vital, not even close to hitting vital organs. "

" You mean to say, it was staged. "

" Unless, bullets had special preference to honest men. "

"You mean - " Knot didn't like where if was going.

" Yep, other officers had been complained against for extortion and bribery. Of course nothing was proved. But, there's no smoke without fire - "

" What do we do now? "

" We keep it to ourselves. Double the security and wait... "

" But - "

" It would be foolish to make a move without knowing what we are facing- Lee, corrupt officers, mafia or all three."

" We had no business with mafia or police. "

" Indeed. It is left to see if they have made it their business to have business with you people... Rich people are known to poke their noses where it doesn't belong . "

" You mean one of us picked a bone with them? "

Win sighed " Your lot aren't known to walk straight pathways . Only time will tell. For now, we will keep it to ourselves until we get something concrete to discuss. "

--------

Sunday!
Finally!

It has been two weeks since Knot and Tob returned as happily engaged couple and the happiness knew no bounds for the platinum group and ittikorn household.

Arthit was happy to see his friend finally getting his lifelong wish fulfilled and happier that there would be no 'crack of dawn' meeting and finally his urges to crack Knot's skull would cool down. Not that it doesn't reemerges as soon as he sees the lovesick asshole.

Don't get him wrong, he could lay off his life for his friend.. It's just that his beauty sleep is off limits or his pinkmilk Or his handsome 'baby' bike ...

The list goes long really!

But, the one thing that would be off limits will always be - his bike

Not that his friends hadn't tried to ride his baby either by stealing or begging, they only backed down after he threatened the existence of their future heirs by threatening their family jewels.

His baby was too precious to be manhandled by the morons , especially Ai prem and Ai Bright...

Knot was understanding enough to lay his paws off and Tutah was far more interested in four wheeled beasts.

A small smile broke on Arthit's face as the name 'The Hangout' came in to view. The one and half hour drive on bike was definitely worth for even thirty minutes in 'The Hangout'.
It was a cafe cum restaurant kinda place, dedicated to couples.

Engineering students of SSU , often referred to it as couple heaven. The two storey building rested amid lush greenery and was in walking perimeter of college. It also offered full privacy and attracting discounts for couples. The owner seems to be die hard romantic? Damn sure, P'Sam is!

Arthit just dreaded facing the kind hearted senior because on his last visit, he had promised to bring a faen. And he still came alone. Not even sure, P'Sam would let him enjoy a meal at his favourite spot - which obviously lied in 'couples only' section of restaurant.

" Arthit! " He was greeted with a broad smile and a welcoming hug as soon as the senior's eyes fell on him.

" Phi Sam " Arthit returned the greeting hesitantly.

" Your regular spot? " He asked. Arthit only nodded in reply.

" Sure...Where is your faen? "

" Umm... " Arthit didn't know what excuse to make. He simply loved the meal and peace of mind this place provided. After a week of hectic, no time to sleep schedule, he needed a recluse for few hours. His senior must have caught on it.

" Fine... I will allow you this time, but next time...-"

" Thank you, P'Sam " Arthit jumped on the male, hugging him to death " I could kiss you right now - "

A hand pulled Arthit back unceremoniously, he turned to see P'Nat, Sam's boyfriend " I would happily knock your teeth down if you come within breathing perimeter of my boyfriend. "

Arthit chuckled seeing Sam rolling his eyes and making kissy faces at Arthit behind Nat's back.

Arthit was sure Sam would do same thing, if places were reversed. Engineers of SSU make hell lot of possesive lovers.

" Nice to meet you too, P'Nat. " He patted the senior's shoulder and walked towards the staircase leading to the second floor. " I will be having my regular... " He shouted seeing almost no crowd downstairs.

" I am not a waiter , you brat " Nat yelled back, Arthit's replying chuckle only made him fume.

Sam just kissed his cheeks " Arthit is getting rise out of you, babe "

" Tell the brat, he is treading on thin ice. If hazer inside me rises -"

" Then, we will have a blast tonight..." Sam complete his sentence, running a finger along Nat's arm but his face remained innocent as ever.

" Sam! " Nat gaped at his boyfriend, he quickly checked their surroundings. Only relaxed after ensuring no one was in hearing range except...

" Head hazer and his naughty first year, huh?" Arthit whispered right in Nat's ear, making him jump.

" Nah! We have played that enough in our university days... I like playing head nurse more these days... You get to do interesting check ups" Sam replied without a second delay.

" Sam! How can you tell him that?" Nat's eyes we're ready to fall off the socket.

" What? But, I said the truth. Didn't you say, lying is bad habit babe " Sam replied. " Arthit is our co-code, he won't tell anyone. Will you Arthit? "

" Nope... " Arthit crossed his heart.
He will only text Ai Bright. But Sam and Nat doesn't need to know that.

" See" Sam placated Nat. " Let's have our lunch, shall we? "

Still unsatisfied but outvoted, Nat reluctantly let the topic die. Arthit climbed the stairs to his favourite spot while the lovebirds left to their own spot.

Arthit had just reached the window overlooking table when his mobile rang.
He's gonna gut the asshole who will try to ruin his outing!

Arthit picked up the call via bluetooth. He didn't even had time to greet before his mom's stern voice fell on his ears...

" Arthit! Where are you? Shanaya has been waiting for half an hour. She couldn't reach you through phone, that is why she called me - "

" Shit - " Arthit exclaimed.

" Don't tell me you forgot. " Her mother chided.

" No... " Arthit faked a chuckle " Definitely not mom. I am just stuck in traffic... Let Shanaya know, I will be at the venue in half an hour. And please send me her number, i missed it I guess. "

" Then, how do you know the venue... "

" ....! ... " Arthit sighed " Fine you got me. I forgot. Half an hour mom. I will be there. "

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A/N : short one huh?

One more chaptet then we will start seeing Kongpob's antics 🐭