Dunk is drowning. Arguably the biggest Thai pop star of the modern era, but his inner demons make his artistry great while crippling him even greater. Joong is the son of the very man who's the reason Dunk's life originally turned to shit. But Dunk...
Dunk wakes up in cold sweat from his dream breathing heavily, having had another nightmare just like all the other weeks before. His elder brother Gulf, gone over ten years ago. But somehow, never have got justice at all. He knows who is responsible for his death, he's always known who drove his brother to take his own life. Burdened by the stress of taking care of them when they had no one else.
The Aydin Syndicate.
They basically run Thailand. In Bangkok, they had been money lenders back then. The lower levels after all.
Gulf couldn't get Dunk into the talent school he wanted on a meager retail salary. So he had borrowed money for Dunk's fees, telling him never to worry and to jus shine like he should. Dunk hadn't known the heavy burden his elder brother had put on himself just to let him achieve his dreams.
Just until he got home from school one day and found Gulf bleeding out on the kitchen floor, that has forever rewired his brain.
He begins sniffling, and that is immediately heard on the walkie talkie in Mew's and Tay's room. The two men wake up immediately and rush to the younger male's room, not wanting to let anything stupid happen on their watch.
Mew immediately engulfs Dunk in a hug and let's him cry out his emotions. Back then, Mew had been the one dating Gulf and when he arrived at the Natachai home, he found a crying Dunk holding a long gone Gulf. The mere sight alone had taken him years to recover from. Mostly thanks to Tay who's helped him with that.
But Dunk only has them. It doesn't help that he doesn't have his person.
And it definitely doesn't help that the one who could be his person is practically the spawn of the devil in Dunk's eyes.
Joong Archen.
Ever since Dunk got onto the scene as basically the somber prince of T-music, Joong has not stopped stalking the man since. Despite Mew, Tay and hell, even Dunk's security company have tried keeping the man away. Dunk has never found out about the crush, and Mew has always worked so hard to keep it that way. But Joong keeps testing his patience by popping up at every of Dunk's events.
Mew knows eventually Joong will catch up to Dunk, but he's trying to prevent that cataclysmic collision.
It might drive Dunk over the edge into the dark abyss of no mental return.
2 days later...
"You know finally letting me in will never be a problem.", Joong smugly says at the VIP entrance of the concert venue.
Mew sighs for the umpteenth time in the past minute. "I am not letting you anywhere near him." Mew wonders if he's genuinely cursed with bad luck. Hell, he'd managed to keep Joong outside the arena for the whole concert's duration. Only for him to somehow sneak in when Dunk is right about to leave.
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Joong ushers to one of his men, who comes forward and produces a document.
And in hat moment, like fates playing a trick, Dunk walks into view chatting with Tay. Not noticing he tense situation the other half of that couple is embroiled in.
Until Joong reads out loudly from said file.
"Gulf Natachai had terminal pancreatic cancer before his untimely demise. On top, clinical depression that had reached its peak. This report was done a week before he passed on."
That stops Dunk right in his footsteps, his face falling slack as he slowly turns to face Joong.
"He didn't want you to worry Dunk, for the rest of your schooling so...", Joong swallows heavily before continuing, "...he organized a life insurance of 90 million baht for you. And he...he reasoned he'd rather have you comfortable than let you see him in his pain."
That utterly breaks Mew out of his previous rage, into flat out shock. Even he didn't know this happened, he didn't know Gulf was going through all of that. But he looks to Dunk, and all he sees is pure hurt in Dunk's glistening eyes.
Everyone knows what the singer must be thinking.
His own brother put him first even when he was hurting without showing anyone.
The numerous thoughts swirling in have Dunk seeing hazy, and he drops to his knees and begins breathing fast. The start of a panic attack. Out of the corner of his eye, Joong sees the fans who were coming backstage to meet their idol just entering the hallway at the far end.
He ignores Mew's protests and places his blazer coat to cover Dunk, and hauls him up into his arms princess style. He then runs out of the back entrance he managed to come through in the first place, Mew following worriedly behind, Tay remaining back to explain to the fans.
Pond readily opens the backdoor of the limo, and Joong places Dunk gingerly in the backseat while rubbing circles onto his back, trying to get him to breathe slowly with him.
"Hey hey, my prince. Match my breathing. I got you."
