The Flaming Firefighters show always gets everyone going. Saturday night is only men performing night and it's also the night when Desire's revenue is the highest of the week. It's always an interesting mixture of men and women who end up having the night of their lives. On the other hand, Saturdays are a nightmare for Chay. There are too many people. Too many personalities. And the mixture of so many usually very horny men and women in one place sometimes ends up in nothing short of a disaster. Chay can't even count how many times he had to prevent sex from happening right in the middle of the club or break up a fight where a man and a woman were fighting over one dancer on whom they wouldn't be able to lay their hands anyway. It's safe to say that there are days, especially, Saturdays, when Chay regrets owning a strip club.
But all the other days he loves it, so he guesses that six good days outrank one bad day.
And this time, even though it is Saturday, Chay doesn't find it that bad. Of course, this has nothing to do with the shy mafia prince who is too cute for his own good, being at the club and eagerly listening to every word that comes out of Chay's mouth. No, it definitely has nothing to do with that.
"So, there's area A, B, and C," Chay points at the stage. "That's area A. It's the main and the one that should be the most guarded for the safety of our artists. It includes the stage itself, all the seats right under it, and the tables next to it. We have bouncers assigned by the area, but area A should be overlooked by all of them." Chay glances at Kim, "including you."
"Will I be assigned area A?" Kim asks, nervously playing with the hair tie on his wrist, which doesn't escape Chay's careful eyes. Kim surely does not look like he would want to take care of area A. He might think it's too much responsibility for him at the beginning and he is right because Chay thinks the same. No, once Kim finishes his training with Chay, he'll be assigned to...
Chay takes Kim to the bar. "You'll be assigned to area B which is the bar here. That's my brother's territory. And I must say that from this place is the best view of the entire club. But you don't have to care about the entire club, just this section here. Sometimes guys get too drunk and shit goes down. We need good people to handle them."
Kim nods, his shoulders are hunched, and his lips are so red from how much he is biting them that Chay is surprised that they aren't bleeding yet.
Chay sighs and pulls Kim to sit on the bar stool, their knees almost touching when Chay leans in closer, "you see, it would be really helpful if you told me what's on your mind because, sadly, I'm not a mindreader. I'm trying to help you, Kim, but I need something... I need you to talk to me openly. I'll be honest, this is the first time I'm trying to make a bouncer out of someone who simply doesn't have the personality for it."
Kim gets still next to Chay and a moment later he mumbles a quick, "I'm sorry," and turns around to leave the bar.
Chay is just sitting there, watching Kim making his way through the crowd of already pretty drunk people. He doesn't get up. He just stares. Confused.
"Where is he going?" Porsche's voice shakes Chay from the haze he somehow fell into.
"I guess, he just quit," Chay replies. He should feel good about it-at least he wouldn't have to spend so much of his free time training someone who makes even little Bella look like a better option for a bouncer than him. But Chay doesn't feel good about it at all. If anything he is mad at himself for wording his thoughts the way he did. But he didn't mean anything bad by it... Kim simply doesn't have personality for it and that's the truth. It's not a bad thing. Not everyone has a personality for this kind of job—well, maybe he should add that when he was talking to Kim.
"What do you mean he just quit?" Porsche raises his voice in shock. "Get your fucking ass moving and get him back, Chay. I have promised Kinn that we'll take care of him."
Chay frowns at his brother, "and does Kim know about that? Because not telling him that's the reason we hired him is..." Chay shows one finger to his brother, "one-a lie," he shows a second finger, "two-a shitty move."
"A shitty move right now will be if you let him leave," Porsche sighs and squeezes Chay's shoulder, "just... please, go talk to him. Don't let him leave."
"Fine, fine," Chay stands up from the bar stool. "But you really owe me big time."
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When Chay runs out of the club, Kim is already down the street, crossing the road to the other side. "Is he going home on foot?" Chay frowns and runs after Kim. He doesn't have his car keys with him-they are up in his apartment, and he has no time to go get them now.
As he is following after Kim, he takes out his phone and dials Kim's number, but Kim isn't picking up. Chay puts his phone back into the pocket of his jeans and finally catches up with Kim.
"Leaving in the middle of the conversation and then not picking up my calls... hmm... if that was a date I'd be really hurt," Chay says standing right behind Kim and smirking when Kim turns around with a surprised almost scared expression.
"I... I'm sorry," Kim says, clutching his phone to his chest. "I just... I know that I'm not good for the job you are offering... or any job at all. I would just waste your time. It was foolish of me to feel so happy yesterday, thinking that I had a job and maybe," the last words slip Kim's lips so quietly that Chay barely hears them, but he does, "... maybe even having a friend."
"But you do have a job and you do have a friend," Chay replies and smiles at Kim when he sees Kim's honey eyes sparkling a little when he looks at Chay.
"Look, Kim, how about we go back to the club, and have a friendly chat. I think that there's a lot to talk about."
Kim's honey eyes stop sparkling, "I really don't want to bother you anymore..."
Chay moves closer to Kim and takes one of his hands, "there's one thing you should know about me, Kim. When I decide to go for something I won't stop until I get it. And right now I have decided to go for you."
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Kim isn't exactly sure how they got back to Desire, all he knows is that Chay's hand feels nice wrapped around his own, and for the first time in his life, he doesn't mind cigarette smoke that much. They are standing next to the back door of the club. Chay sent the two bouncers who were guarding the door inside so now they are alone again. Kim feels stupid for running away before because it clearly made Chay upset, and he didn't want to upset Chay. Never.
Chay is leaning on the wall, cigarette smoke is hazing the air around him, and he is looking somewhere into the distance. For a couple of minutes, there's complete silence, only a faint sound of loud music is coming at them from the club.
But then Chay finally throws the cigarette into the trash and turns to Kim, "so, there are a couple of things I want to be honest with you about."
Something in Kim tenses and it's like a pit is opening in his stomach. He knew this would come—he is going to be told that he is useless and ugly, and he'll be sent home. It's okay, he is used to hearing those words from his father. It's not like they are something new. But then Chay continues talking and Kim... doesn't know what to feel...
"You have to know that the reason why I hired you was because Porsche asked me to do it. He promised your brother Kinn that we'll take care of you. I'll be completely honest with you, Kim, if my brother hadn't asked me to hire you, you wouldn't make the cut. You just wouldn't. However, that doesn't mean that I don't think you can become a good bouncer. In fact, I think you can... it might take a while, but you can. You know, looking at it from the other way-maybe having a bouncer who is soft and kind isn't that bad. Violence isn't always an answer after all, am I right?"
Kim nods, "I guess so."
"But you still have to know how to fight... and... and this is something that is even more important to me than whether you know how to fight or not..." Chay suddenly cuts the distance between them and Kim feels his back hitting the wall behind him, Chay's face is so close to his. Chay smells like cigarettes and something fresh like citrus—a strange combination that makes Kim lean a little bit closer.
"I want you to gain more confidence," Chay finishes his words, his breath tickling Kim's skin.
"Confidence?" Kim breathes out into the small space that still exists between them.
"Yeah," Chay nods and steps away, sending a wave of disappointment through Kim's body, confusing him more than he already is. "Porsche told me what kind of piece of shit your father is. Let me tell you something, Kim—your father is a liar! An awful deranged liar. You aren't smart? Well if you weren't smart how come you are at the university? Your third year already, right? You are useless? You aren't useless! Everyone has a purpose in life. I'm sure that there are many things that you are good at. We just have to find them. And... apparently, you are also ugly, huh?" Chay spits those words out. "Well, I beg to differ. I own a strip club-I'm not easily swayed or distracted by someone. I don't have pointless crushes or anything like that. But you, Kim... I can't stop thinking about you. I wish that you could look into the mirror and see what I see because you... you are stunning..." Chay chuckles, "and I'm not trying to flirt with you right now... I'm simply saying what I think. Now I know that you probably don't believe anything I just said because you've been told your entire life the exact opposite, but I still wanted to tell you this."
"Chay!" Porsche appears at the door.
"What?"
"We have a slight problem inside. Can you?"
"Give me a sec," Chay replies and looks back at Kim. "I just want to help you, Kim. Is it okay if I do?"
"Ok... okay," Kim somehow gets out of himself, but there are too many thoughts in his mind right now to think rationally.
But as much as there are many thoughts in his head, there's only one feeling in his heart—he really likes Chay. And when Chay tells him to stay outside while he is going to check what's the problem in the club, Kim does exactly what he was told.
"Nice monologue out there," Porsche says as Chay follows him inside.
Chay snaps his head towards his brother, frowning, "stop listening to other people's conversations!"
"I didn't mean to," Porsche raises his hands in defence, a big grin plastered all over his face. "But I must say it's funny."
"What's so funny?" Chay scoffs.
"That you met him only yesterday and you are already in love," Porsche laughs.
"Have you lost it completely or what? I'm just taking care of him. Isn't that what you wanted me to do?" Chay defends himself.
Porsche nods, biting his lips not to laugh anymore, "good job, nong. Keep it up. But right now, be so kind and go deal with that." Porsche cocks his head towards the right side of the stage where two men already broke the table in half and are now punching the living hell out of each other on what is left of that table.
But something's wrong. Why are other bouncers not doing anything? Chay looks at Porsche who is still sporting a huge grin.
"Why me?"
Porsche shrugs and looks behind himself from the way they came from, "I wanted Kim to see you in action. Where is he? Did you tell him to stay outside?"
Chay pinches the bridge of his nose and shakes his head... his brother and his wonderful ideas...
Whatever, Chay goes and makes his way towards the two men, grabbing a cocktail from one of the tables on his way. "Excuse me, I'll take this. The next one is on the club," he winks at the woman to whom the cocktail belonged till now and walks towards the two relentless fighters.
He grabs one of them by the collar of his T-shirt and spills the cocktail right into his face, making him stumble a couple of steps away. He bends down and grabs the other guy from the floor—the guy's face is already turning purple. At first, Chay wants to just help the guy get up, but the guy starts freaking out. He starts shouting at the other, guy and at Chay, going as far as hitting Chay's jaw and trying to kick Chay into his stomach. Chay doesn't have any of it, he throws the guy in the direction of the guy whose face is still covered in the cocktail. They both stumble and hit a table with customers still sitting there.
"Learn how to behave before stepping your foot in my club ever again! Both of you! You got a problem, deal with it outside!" Chay shouts, cornering the two men towards the exit. One of them seems to understand that the situation got out of hand. He turns around and simply leaves. But the other doesn't. He throws himself at Chay's face, pushing him down and punching him over and over again. It takes a couple of seconds for Chay to fully grasp what is happening. And when he does he already sees his brother and other bouncers in the club pulling the guy away from him. He tastes blood when he licks over his lips, and the area around his right eyebrow is stinging a bit, but aside from that he is fine. But that fucker who just did this to him fucking won't be.
Chay stands up from the floor, wiping the blood from his lips. "Let him go," he orders.
The man looks confused when the bouncers let go of him but Chay just grins and says, "run!"
"Run!" He shouts when the man doesn't move a muscle.
Attacking Porchay Kittisawat, unprovoked... that fool really doesn't know what he got himself into.
"Run... if I won't catch you... you are free... but if I do..." Chay drops his voice low, and the man's eyes widen. He pushes his way through the crowd of bouncers and runs towards the exit.
But it's the exit that leads outside towards Kim.
Chay runs right after him, but he doesn't have to run for too long. Right when the man runs outside, Chay sees a leg coming in front of the man, and a moment later the man trips and falls down on the dirty concrete, screaming in pain—one of his hands being crushed under him in an unnatural direction.
"No one ever told you not to run around because you might get hurt?" Chay hears Kim's soft voice, and it sounds so genuine that for a moment Chay questions if Kim is really being sarcastic or if he is genuinely asking. Can Kim even be sarcastic? That's another question.
Chay walks out and looks at Kim, "thanks, big boy."
Kim smiles, "I may not know how to fight, but I'll try my best to help."
And Chay is doomed... Kimhan Theerapanyakul is too adorable.
To be continued...
P.S. Chay: knows Kim for a day
also Chay: goes on an entire monologue about how amazing Kim is...
okaaaaay 😏👀