Vira stared hard at the man in front of him. He was dark-skinned and about as tall as Vira. He spoke with a hint of an accent, his voice soft and firm. It was a voice that sounded pleasant; however, he looked anything but pleasant.
His eyes did not hide the animosity he felt toward Vira.
"Not yet. I'm afraid we won't get to that stage."
Vira looked puzzled. Who was this crackpot?
"You will have to break up with your boyfriend."
Vira looked blank. "Why would I do that?"
"Because he is mine."
There was a long silence as both stared at each other.
Vira thought to himself, "Who was this idiot?"
Prapit was simply evaluating the man in front of him.
The silence was broken by Akat's voice.
"Prapit, what are you doing here?"
Laika, Roma, and Kenta had gone straight into the house. Akat had come searching for Vira.
Prapit slowly turned towards Akat. "I don't like my things taken by others."
Vira now got the gist of what was happening.
He was amazed by how different he was from the impression Akat had given him.
"He may look a bit fierce, but is just a little kitten."
Which part of this leopard looked like a kitten to Akat, he wondered.
It was slowing starting to drizzle.
"Akat, get in." Vira said. He made his voice sound rough.
He was going to help Akat. He would make Prapit jealous. It was the only way he could get them to admit their love for each other.
"Leave him to me. Go in." Vira repeated himself, but Akat stood still.
He wasn't actually paying any attention to Vira. His eyes were fixed on Prapit.
Prapit smiled. The guy who stood in front didn't look like he could fight. But atleast he had guts, even if he was foolish.
"Vira, I don't want to fight you. Return what is mine, and we part ways."
"Since when you did you own Akat? And stop objectifying him. He is a human, give him that respect."
Prapit inched closer to Vira. Vira stood his ground and stared back defiantly.
"You gave him your SIM. Quick thinking. It took me a while to track him."
"He ran away from you. Why would you stalk him? Get the hint and leave him alone."
Prapit pulled Vira by his collar. "Who are you to interfere in our family affairs?"
Vira caught hold of Prapit's collar, surprising him. This kid had spunk. "Who are you to ask me who I am? Did it feel good to throw him out? Where were you when he was broken? Do you know the days he went without food and water crying over a loser like you? It took him two whole years to get to where he is, to open up, to smile. You have no rights to rob that smile off him."
"Indeed," spat out Prapit, his eyes darkening with anger. "You bought him a house here, you work with him, lunch and dine with him and you think he is yours already? All that will not amount to a fraction of what I have done for him."
"Uncle Prapit, stop."
Prapit froze in his tracks. Akat had never called him uncle, howmuchever Prapit had insisted on it. Had he really moved on?
"Uncle?" Prapit asked back incredulously.
Akat replied coolly. "If you lay a finger on Vira, you will see a side of me, you've never seen." His eyes flashed with anger.
Prapit pushed Vira down. He was seething. Touching Vira made him angry?
He walked to Akat and grabbed his hand. "Come with me."
Akat resisted in vain. He was no match for Prapit in a game of strength.
Vira saw them leave. He hoped they'd make up to each other.
He had succeeded in fueling Prapit's jealousy. Both loved each other, why couldn't they just be nice about it?
He felt his collar burn. Prapit hadn't been very gentle with him, but he had held back a lot.
Vira didn't have any bruises. He felt lucky.
He got up and spotted Saka looking at him. He looked shocked.
Dang.
How much of it had Saka seen?
Tears streamed down Saka's face. He turned and walked towards the house.
Apparently Saka had seen everything.
"Saka, it's not what you think."
Rain had picked momentum. It was getting difficult to see. Saka walked faster.
"Saka please stop!
Saka was in no mood to listen.
Saka walked angrily. He was hurt. Not once Vira denied being in a relationship with Akat.
He could still see it. The way Vira had gotten angry at that guy.
The way he had defended.
"Saka, stop! It's dangerous and its getting dark. Stop behaving like a kid, let's go back."
Saka ignored him. Behaving like a kid? How convenient! He walked faster. Yes, he was a kid. Isn't that what he was to Vira?
It was starting to rain with greater intensity. Saka felt grateful. Now he could let out his tears of frustration, anger, and unhappiness without anyone knowing.
Vira was kind to everyone; he treated everyone equally. It was Saka's fault for expecting something more from him. After all, Saka was the one constantly chasing Vira. Vira still hadn't confessed to him, so he wasn't bound to him.
Saka was tired. He loathed this sense of insecurity. He loathed that he felt so possessive of Vira. He loathed that he went through these emotions every single day. And he loathed that he was showing such an ugly side of himself in front of Vira. He wanted to appear composed.
"Saka! Please stop now. It's starting to pour. Let's please go back." Vira was begging him. Saka could barely make out the words because of the rain.
Saka walked without turning back. He took the lesser-trodden path toward the mountains. Saka made it clear that he did not want to be followed.
Vira took a deep breath. Then he dashed after Saka. He had no intention of letting Saka off so easily.
Saka walked robotically through the woods. He knew the landscape like the back of his hand. Vira, on the other hand, had to be cautious. This was his first time in these areas. The intensity of the rain was increasing, and Vira had to remove his glasses just to be able to see something.
"Saka! Please, let's talk. Can you stop? It's dark. I'm walking blindly here." He begged.
"You don't have to follow me, Maw. Please go back. Let me cool my head," responded Saka.
Vira felt a tug at his heart. Saka called him Maw. He was very angry, and his voice gave away the fact that he was crying.
"Saka, just listen to me. At least allow me to explain. What do you expect me to do when you won't even listen to me?
"There is nothing that you can do, it's my problem. Just go back please!"
"I am not going anywhere without you."
"Stop being a teacher twenty four by seven dang it! It is so darn irritating! I want to be by myself. Why can't you just leave me alone?" He quickened his pace, trying to increase the distance between them.
"Saka wait!"
Vira moved suddenly, trying to stop Saka from walking any further, but ended up tripping over his own feet. Losing his balance, he rolled over for a good few feet and banged himself on a tree, instantly knocking him out.
Saka heard the thud and froze. He turned back and ran toward the sound.
"Sen!" Saka turned to see Vira hit himself and rushed toward where Vira lay, unconscious. "Vira? Vira? Can you hear me?"