Chapter 23 - A Good Person.

"I heard everything," Akara said as he sat up on the narrow bed, letting his feet touch the floor. He watched Athens slowly approach, his movements awkward and unsteady. Akara wanted to kick him, but couldn't bring himself to do it after seeing how Athens struggled to walk. "Fine, I'll accept your apology. Now get out."

"Let me stay in your room for five minutes. If I leave now, my dad's men will report that I wasn't sincere in apologising," Athens said.

"You weren't sincere to begin with," Akara scoffed, clasping his hands on his lap. His sharp eyes followed Athens as he dragged a chair over and sat down. The smaller man, looking frail, slumped into the chair, as if he had no energy left. His face was swollen, his lip bleeding slightly, and he looked so battered that Akara couldn't help but ask, "Wanna admit yourself to the room next door?"

"No need to worry about me. I'm not hurt that badly," Athens replied. A brief silence filled the room. Intha, who had chosen to sit on the sofa by the window, observed the tense atmosphere between the two. Silence… Complete silence...

"Athens," Intha finally broke the quiet, calling out to him. Both Akara and Athens turned to look at him at the same time.

"Yes?"

"Can I ask you something? Why did you do all of this?" Intha's question was straightforward, but Athens gave a faint smile that only irritated the listener.

"I don't know. Maybe just for the thrill of it," Athens said nonchalantly.

"Just for the thrill? I swear, Athens, I wanna slap you so badly right now. Just for the thrill... just for the thrill," Akara said, clenching his fists. His sharp eyes stayed locked on Athens, his anger barely contained. Calm down, Eung-eung, stay calm.

"You already have everything, Athens. Why are you still messin' with me? You wanted Bomb, and he's already moved in with you. What more do you want from me? Is being this awful just who you are? Where's the sweet, lovable junior I used to care about?" He raised his voice without realising it, coughing as his throat burned from the strain. "I don't want anything from you. I just want to destroy everything you have, everything you love, so you'll have no happiness left," Athens said.

"What made you this crazy?" Akara snapped, grabbing Athens by the collar. But Athens only smirked in response.

"Maybe it's because ever since P'Bomb broke up with you, he hasn't been kind to me anymore," Athens said, his voice trembling slightly.

".." Akara froze, his expression clearly showing his confusion. Maybe he should listen to what Athens had to say. Perhaps he'd finally understand why Athens had become

this way.

"Why, P'Eung? P'Bomb chose me, so why did things turn out like this?" Athens's voice, which Intha secretly referred to as that of a brat, began to shake. Akara let go of his collar, causing Athens to slump to the floor.

"Even though I became his boyfriend, it feels like I don't exist at all."

"That's between you and Bomb. It has nothin' to do with me. Stop draggin' me into it," Akara said firmly.

"It has everything to do with you because I'm jealous of you. The more I see you loved, the more I see you getting good things, the more I hate you. I want to destroy you... no, I want to destroy everything in this world that's happy," Athens said, his voice filled with bitterness.

"..." Akara glanced at Intha before both of them turned their attention back to Athens, who was sitting on the floor, lamenting. The more Athens spoke, the more nonsensical he sounded. What was this talk about destroying everything happy? Is he okay?

"You're far gone, Athens. You have no right to destroy anythin' that belongs to anyone else," Akara said, stepping closer to Athens and towering over him. "Do you really feel good about bein' like this? Or are you just lost, confused, and unable to find a way out because you love Bomb too much?"

"Are you truly happy destroyin' me? Are you happy, or are you just hurtin' more? You need to figure out what you're really feelin'," Akara said, his sharp gaze piercing through Athens, who sat lower than him. Deep down, Akara already knew the answer.

If Athens were truly happy, his hardened eyes wouldn't carry such pain. If he were happy, he wouldn't be tryin' to destroy anyone. If Athens were to find happiness..."I'm happy. I'm so happy. I managed to take P'Bomb from you and make him mine. It feels amazing, so satisfying," Athens said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Stop lyin' to yourself. The Athens I know isn't like this. The Athens I know was a sweet kid, a little spoiled but not evil. Whatever's taken over my junior, leave him right now," Akara said, his tone softening as he crouched down in front of Athens. Despite claiming to be happy, Athens had started crying. People who are truly happy don't break down like this.

Akara raised his arm, the one with the IV line, and ruffled Athens's soft hair. Athens's head bobbed with the motion, but he didn't lift his face to meet Akara's gaze.

Akara's gentleness made Athens feel truly weak.

"I'm not mad at you about Bomb, but I'm furious about the bar. Apologize to me right now, my little brat," Akara demanded.

"Your little brat?... After everything I've done to you, you still call me your little brat?"

"You're just a weak little boy tryna to act tough. But I think you've got it all wrong. Bein' aggressive and bein' strong aren't the same thing. But anyway, if you can figure that out, you can still be my little bro. Do you still wanna be?" Athens held on, not letting go. "I hate that you can still smile. I hate that you're strong... but I hate myself

even more for feeling guilty every time I look at you. I hate feeling guilty when I'm with P'Bomb because I know I took him away. I want to be strong like you, but I don't know why my version of strength looks so awful. The worse I act, the harder it is to turn back... I feel so guilty. So guilty."

"I don't know what to do anymore. I feel like I've become so awful that no one could ever forgive me. P'Eung... I wish I could talk to you and P'Nok like we used to. Go out to eat, drink, and travel together. I want to vent to you guys about all the crap in my life, but I know everything's changed now. I don't know what to do. I really don't," Athens said.

"Listen, I forgive you. Nok probably does too. Don't hate yourself. Everyone has their moments of bein' a mess," Akara said, deciding that kindness was better than scolding. Athens is just... lost.

"..."

"If you know what you did was wrong, then start over," Akara said. Let bygones be bygonee. Akara didn't hate him… So Athens had no need to feel lost…

"Can I really start over?" Athens asked.

"That depends on whether you're willin' to try. But you're not as lost as you think you are," Akara said, sitting down beside Athens. His heart felt lighter after having this honest conversation with him. From the moment he found out about the betrayal, they hadn't had a proper talk. "What happened with Bomb wasn't entirely your fault. I get it-these things take two. It was wrong, but you were both wrong. The only one who wasn't wrong was me. I'm the heroine, the princess of this story," Akara said with a playful smirk.

"You say you're not mad, but you punched P'Bomb so hard his face was a mess," Athens pointed out.

"I mean, I'm not mad now. But back then, yeah, I was furious. And what about you? You must love him a lot, throwin' wrenches at his head," Akara teased.

"I do love him, but I was angry too."

"If you can get angry, you can also forgive. Holdin' onto anger wastes time you could spend bein' happy. It's hard to get to happiness, right? So you have to take care of it when you have it... Damn, I'm so wise. Beautiful and wise. Y'know what I'm sayin'?" Akara asked, looking at Athens. Athens lowered his head, nodding as if he understood. He glanced at Akara occasionally...Someone like P'Eung truly deserves good things.

"It's good talking to you. I thought you'd hit me when I walked in," Athens said with a faint smile.

"That smug face and sharp mouth of yours when you walked in-was that you bein' scared of me?" Akara teased.

"Yeah..." Athens admitted, letting Akara ruffle his hair again. A low chuckle escaped from Akara.

"Do you regret what you did?" Akara asked

"Feeling bad after doing it-does that count as regret?" Athens asked back.

"I guess it does. So why did your dad hit you so hard?"

"We argued about other things, too. He wants me to break up with P'Bomb. Next week, he's sending me abroad to study. I told him I wouldn't go, so he got really mad. Even though I know I can't ultimately defy him, he called me crazy for being obsessed with one guy," Athens explained

"Well, you're kinda crazy," Akara said bluntly.

"So... are we good now, P'Eung?" Athens asked, moving closer to Akara and looking up at him with hopeful eyes.

"Fix my bar, and we're good," Akara replied.

"Deal. I'm about to do that anyway. So, we're good now, right?" Athens asked again.

"Yeah... fine. I'm such a kind-hearted person," Akara said, praising himself. The tension in his body from when Athens first walked in had melted away, leaving only a relaxed demeanour. Though there was still a bit of awkwardness, it was understandable given the long conflict.

"It's like siblings fighting. You have to hit each other a couple of times before making up," Athens said with a small laugh.

"Aren't you an only child?" Akara asked.

"I have a sister named Eung here," Athens joked.

"Ew, what kinda siblings fight over a guy?"

"Well, you've already moved on to someone better, so just let me have P' Bomb," Athens said with a grin.

"Take him! If you're bold enough to ask, I'm bold enough to give. But the thing you took might be a bit hard to handle. Livin' together, you'll always be suspicious of each other," Akara said, his tone light but pointed.

"No need to rub it in, okay? Anyway, I have a favour to ask... I want to see P'Bomb, but my dad strictly forbids me from meeting him until the day I leave," Athens said, his voice turning serious.

"And?" Akara prompted.

"Can you take me there? Just drop me off at P'Bomb's condo. I just want to see him before I leave. Please... please... I'll even order the best furniture for you," Athens pleaded.

"Bein' rich really is a blessin', huh? Hey... Hia," Akara turned his head to look at Intha, who was sitting with his eyes closed, earbuds in. Akara had to shout louder. "Hia!!!"

"Yes?"

"Take out your earbuds first," Akara said.

"I'm listening to an online sermon. Can you call me in ten minutes? Just keep talking to your little friend here. I won't interrupt, don't worry about me," Intha replied.

"No, not ten minutes. I need to talk now. I wanna know when I can be discharged from the hospital," Akara insisted

"Probably today. Why?"

"I'm taking Athens to see Bomb. He wants to say his goodbyes," Akara explained. Intha finally removed his earbuds, looking back and forth between Akara and Athens. He'd overheard the entire conversation earlier but had chosen to ignore Akara's calls because he was too lazy. Shaking off his laziness, Intha stood up and walked over to the two of them. He handed one earbud to Athens and the other to Akara, muttering something under his breath.

"Love, you see, the more you chase it, the more it runs away. Try standing still and taking a broader view of the world, and you'll find love all around you. The more love you give to the world, the more love you'll receive in return... I'll go call the doctor to check on Eung-eung first. If the doctor says you can go home, then we'll all go together," Intha said, standing tall and looking incredibly cool as he left the room. Once he was gone, Athens turned to Akara.

"Your boyfriend is so wise," Athens commented

"Wise, my ass. He just copied a sermon and preached it to us," Akara replied

"Should I say amen or something?" Athens asked.

"Up to you," Akara said with a shrug.

"Do you ever bow to your hubby?" Athens teased.

"To his glorious chest, every night before bed," Akara replied with a smirk.

"You're so extra," Athens said, rolling his eyes in disbelief. Akara pulled the earbud out of his ear and continued to praise Intha to Athens, their conversation light and teasing, like siblings making up after a fight.

The door to the condo unit opened as Bomb tapped his keycard to unlock it. The tall man closed the door behind him and glanced around, looking for the pair of shoes Athens had worn out that morning. The shoes were neatly placed on the rack, indicating that Athens had already returned.

"Athens... where are you? Why is the room so dark?" Bomb called out. There was no response. Bomb decided to turn on the lights first. He saw that the living room area was empty. The clock showed it was nearly morning, so he assumed Athens was in the bedroom.

Bomb took off his shirt and tossed it onto the sofa before heading to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. Running The Crowd Bar on his own was no easy task. It left him drained every night when he returned to the condo. At least the bar was doing okay... in less than a year, he should be able to pay off his debt to Athens. Technically, it was Akara's money... he'd planned to return it, but Athens found out first. Not cool at all...

Bomb placed the empty water bottle on the table and licked his lips, feeling slightly refreshed. He stretched his body before quietly opening the bedroom door. The bedside lamp cast a dim light, allowing Bomb to see Athens curled up under the blanket on one side of the bed. He initially planned to head straight to the bathroom for a shower, but as he reached the bed, his legs stopped. He stared at the strands of hair peeking out from under the blanket for a moment. Instead of going to the bathroom, he decided to approach Athens. His rough hand rested on the head beneath the blanket, and he leaned down to kiss the soft, fragrant hair.

"Sweet dreams... It's better this way, so we don't have to wake up and argue," Bomb whispered

"Mmm... P'Bomb," Athens murmured. Before Bomb could pull away and head to the bathroom, a small, soft hand reached out to grab his arm. Bomb frowned slightly and asked in a low, almost whispering voice, "Did I wake you up?"

"Yeah, but it's fine. I was waiting for you anyway... I just fell asleep," Athens replied

"If you're tired, go back to sleep. I'm going to shower," Bomb said, gently pulling his wrist free from Athens's grasp. He straightened up and was about to walk away, but the rustling sound of Athens sitting up stopped him in his tracks.

"I went to see my dad today. Want to know why he called me home?" Athens asked.

"..."

"I had someone to burn down half of P' Eung's bar. So my dad called me in for a little lesson. P'Eung's new boyfriend is the brother of someone my dad respects... I'm in trouble now," Athens said, looking down at his feet on the floor. He heard Bomb sigh, his voice heavy with frustration.

"What the hell did you do this time, Athens? When are you going to stop messing with Eung?" Bomb snapped.

"..." Do you not care about me at all?

"You're fucking childish."

"I've never been mature in your eyes anyway, have I? Congratulations. My dad told me to break up with you for good," Athens said, his voice bitter.

"…What!?"

"Congratulations, P'Bomb. You don't have to deal with me anymore," Athens said, clenching his teeth. His eyes burned with unshed tears, and he refused to look up at Bomb. All he saw were Bomb's hands clenching into fists.

"You don't have to break up with me anymore. You're free now. You don't have to worry about P'Eung either. I already talked to him, and we've cleared everything up. But if you're planning to go back and beg for him, good luck. P' In is way out of your league."

"Athens..." Bomb's fists tightened even more. He couldn't help but feel irritated. What he hated most was Athens pushing him back toward Akara. The second thing he hated was Athens praising another man.

"Congratulations, really. You don't have to suffer anymore," Athens said.

"I'm not breaking up," Bomb said, his voice firm. His sharp eyes locked onto Athens. 

"When I wanted to break up, you wouldn't let me. You clung to me as your life depended on it. And now, you're saying you want to end it just like that?"

"Fine, I admit it. When I said I'd go back to Eung, I was just trying to get back at you because you kept pushing me away like I was nothing..."

"And what about when you pushed me away like I was nothing? Did you ever think that I could feel pain, too? Did you ever love me? Did you ever care about me?" Athens asked, his voice trembling with anger. What he'd hoped would be a calm conversation was now completely ruined.

"Athens.. where are you going? Let's talk this through. Don't run away," Bomb said, trying to stop him.

"Stop picking fights with me. It's annoying," Athens said, his tone cold.

"Are you really saying that to me?"

"Can you just stay quiet?"

"..."

"I told you, we're done."

".."

"I'll go anywhere but here with you."

Athens shook off Bomb's grip and threw back every harsh word he'd ever received. Everything he said now, Bomb had once said to him.

"I'm giving back every cruel word you've ever said to me. I told you before, when I want to leave, I'll leave on my own."

Today... he was leaving. Athens turned around, intending to walk away, but Bomb grabbed his arm and threw him onto the bed. His battered body landed with a thud

Bomb climbed on top of him, his furious expression softening as he took in Athens's bruised face. Half of his small face was swollen, and when Bomb pulled Athens's shirt off, he saw clear bruises all over his pale body.

"What happened to you?" Bomb asked.

"I told you, my dad taught me a lesson," Athens said, turning his face away. The tears he'd been holding back spilt onto the bed, soaking the sheets. He bit his lip to stifle his sobs.

"Does it hurt?" Bomb asked softly.

"Don't worry about it," Athens replied.

"I'll get some medicine for you," Bomb said.

"No need. I've already taken care of it," Athens said, his voice distant.

"Athens, don't be stubborn. Let me take care of your wounds. I won't let you go home alone anymore. If you're going, tell me, and I'll go with you," Bomb said.

"Caring now doesn't help anymore..." Athens said, his voice breaking.

"Athens, listen to me..."

"Next week, my dad is sending me to New Zealand. He wants to fix me because I've caused too much trouble," Athens said.

".." Bomb felt like he'd been struck by lightning. He rolled off Athens and lay beside him, letting the silence envelop them. "Can't you not go?"

"When my dad orders something, I have to do it. I thought you'd be happy to hear it," Athens said bitterly.

"Stop being sarcastic," Bomb said, turning to face Athens. He wrapped an arm around the smaller man, pulling him close. His nose nuzzled into Athens's neck, and his lips left a mark on his skin. He bit down, unable to resist.

"P'Bomb, that hurts," Athens protested.

"How long will you be gone?" Bomb asked, his teeth grazing Athens's skin despite his complaints. How long will this mark last? How long will it last?

"I don't know... Stop it, please..." Athens pleaded

"Athens, I'll wait for you," Bomb said.

"Don't wait," Athens replied firmly.

"..."

"Breaking up is for the best," Athens said

"Athens... Athens... Athens," Bomb called his name repeatedly.

All this time, I pushed him away, and he never left. I begged to break up, and he wouldn't let go. I always thought he couldn't live without me. No matter how awful I was, he still loved me...

"I'm letting you go now. From now on, I hope you find someone good," Athens said.

Bomb pinned Athens's hands to the bed, staring deeply into his beautiful eyes. Why does it hurt so much when Athens says he's leaving? It feels absolutely terrible.

"Let me go. I'm going home," Athens said. Athens tried to pull his hand away, but instead, he found himself held even tighter. He saw Bomb's lips moving closer, too close. Before he could react, their lips pressed together, firm and unrelenting. Bomb kissed him so intensely that it left Athens struggling to breathe. Just as he thought it was over, Bomb pulled back only to press down again, repeating the motion over and over. His resistance only lasted at the beginning. As the kisses deepened, he lay limp beneath the other man, surrendering to the hands of his former lover as they roamed over his bare, heated skin. His breath hitched, stirred by the dark desires that flared fiercely within him.

Athens was mesmerised by the sharp profile before him, the face he'd done everything to claim as his own. Athens was entranced by the firm, muscular body his hands now explored, so consumed by his obsession that he'd acted recklessly, losing all sense of reason. He'd done wrong… And now he understood, obtaining something the wrong way could never bring true happiness.

"Let me know if it hurts," Bomb said softly.

"Mm... slow down," Athens murmured, pressing his hands against Bomb's stomach to create some space. The sudden intrusion left him feeling uncomfortable and pained. His blurred vision caught sight of the tattoo on Bomb's side, his fingers tracing the letters of his own name etched there. Among the intricate designs, the small name didn't stand out much.

Athens

"I'm sorry for making you get my name tattooed," Athens whispered, knowing full well that Bomb would always remember exactly where it was.

"It's fine. Can I start now?" Bomb asked, his voice low and steady.

"Yeah, it doesn't hurt anymore. Go ahead, all the way," Athens replied, his voice soft but resolute.

Bomb's hips began to move, thrusting into the warm, soft space. He leaned down to capture the sweet sounds escaping Athens's lips, swallowing them greedily. Over and over, he poured his warmth into Athens, taking everything he could with an insatiable hunger. Because he knew it'd be a long time before they could see each other again.

And so, their fractured love story ended with a goodbye in the car the following morning. They shouted and argued countless times until Athens finally stepped out of the car, slamming the door shut with a loud bang. Bomb was left alone, seething with frustration, only to later apologise repeatedly to himself after Athens went to study abroad.

Sorry for not being good to you when I had the chance.

Sorry for pushing you away with harsh words so many times.

Sorry for never creating good memories together.

Sorry for all the mistakes...

If I ever get the chance to start over, maybe the lessons from this broken love will help me cherish it better next time. But... "Athens, why will you be gone for so long?"