Personal Manager

20.  All Black Set

 

The small figure had his hands tied behind his back and his ankles bound together. His beautiful eyes were filled with terror, even though he was lying on the bed, Soft, yet utterly uncomfortable. The two had been arguing for a long time before the male model resorted to this method. Kel kept saying the same thing: he wanted to leave him. His already angry anger intensified.

 

"The more you struggle, the more you hurt yourself," Gun said, dragging a chair closer to the bed and sitting down. His sharp eyes stared at the person who was struggling to break free from his restraints. He fled until his back was against the wall.

 

"Cruel," Kel retorted, his voice trembling. He had never seen the other person in this mode before.

 

"If I'm cruel, then what would you call someone like you?" So, the one who dares to say so openly that they've never loved is the one who isn't cruel at all, huh?

 

"Release me!"

 

"Stop struggling," he said, wanting to scold him even more. He climbed onto the bed, then pulled his small ankles straight and held them firmly. Now, his fair skin was marked with prominent red marks. That's because Gun’s room didn't have any rope, so he had to cut a measuring tape in half. The first part was used to tie Kel’s wrists, and the second part to tie his ankles. It was stiff and inflexible, easily cutting into his delicate skin. Kel gritted his teeth, sitting still because he couldn't move at all. He couldn't fight back. Now, the force of Gun’s large hands was tighter than the measuring tape.

 

"Let's have a serious talk now," the model said, looking at the stubborn man.

 

"I don't want to talk. I don't want to talk." 

 

Where had the gentle person he used to be gone? Kel didn't like this atmosphere at all.

 

"Don't be too naughty. If you don't like being in bed, I'll lock you in the bathroom."

 

"Don't threaten me."

 

"Go ahead and try." I'm not threatening, of course. If you want to know if I'll really do it, I'll show you.

 

"..." This time, the short person fell silent immediately.

 

"You want to leave me so much, do you?" Gun moved closer, their faces only inches apart. Under normal circumstances, a kiss would have been inevitable. It would have been a passionate kiss, but now they're arguing, there's no desire... only anger and resentment. They're both unhappy with each other.

 

"That's the most important thing you should do. Please."

 

Kel just thought that staying away from this model was the best course of action. Even though his heart ached terribly, time would heal the pain, and Kel would get better someday. Maybe it would take a year, two years, or even decades. He had to accept the consequences of his actions. He had to admit that he hadn't thought things through at the time, not considering the damage to a model's reputation. 

 

"How long will you be gone? How far will you go? When will you come back? Or are you going away forever, never to see me again? That's why you left the key card?"

 

"You left it on the table in my room. Tell me you just forgot to take it with you."

 

"..." Every question Kel heard was like a thousand needles piercing his heart. Kel was speechless.

 

"No answer? Then I'll change the question, because now I have so many things I want to know." The questioner was just as hurt, but still had to ask. We have to figure out the truth somehow.

 

"The small figure looked like he was about to cry."

 

"First question, do you really not love me anymore? Or did you never love me at all, as you said? Just now I said I didn't believe you, but now I want to hear it from your own mouth again, just in case it's conclusive." Gun was furious about what happened in front of the condo an hour ago. Kel, too, was well aware that he had done many things without thinking, like slapping the person he loved.

 

"..." Now he doesn't dare say he doesn't love him, doesn't dare lie.

 

"Not answering again? Okay, then the second question. You said you hate people like me... why do you hate me? Because I punched your wonderful ex-boyfriend in the face."

 

"Is he yours, brother? Is it?" The sharp look in his eyes clearly showed pain.

 

"I don't hate you, h-h-h!" Tears streamed down Kel's cheeks as he sobbed. Every time Gun saw him like this, he would wipe them away. He would give it to him, but now he's not. And Kel can't wipe it off himself because his hands are tied.

 

"Then why did you say you hated it?"

 

"Sob! Wail...."

 

"Third question: Are you sure you want to get back together with him? I don't know what you're going through right now, but I'm not happy that you're being sarcastic by saying you want to be with him. Who could have changed your mind overnight like that?" 

 

Everything was fine before; after coming back from home, you've changed completely.

 

"We can't be together, hmmm..." a faint voice said.

 

"Stop crying. I don't like tears," Gun said sternly.

 

Kel nodded a few times and tried for a while. Silence fell as Gun gave Kel time to deal with those tears and to reflect on what had been said. Gun didn't want to see the tears, but he also didn't want to hug him to comfort him.

 

"Don't assume that we can't be together," he said again when the other person stopped sobbing.

 

"Gun, look at reality for a moment."

 

"The fact that I'm a model and you're my manager means we can't be together, right? Who decides the fate of our love? Isn't it just the two of us?"

 

"Gun..."

 

"With me forever. Do you think I should do it?"

 

"Because I'm a model, right? Quitting the entertainment industry would probably be the best thing to do if I want you to stay here." 

 

"Don't think anything crazy," Kel widened his eyes and shook his head in disagreement.

 

"Isn't what you're doing crazy? Just suddenly leaving me?"

"I'm tired of dealing with our situation."

 

"No matter how tired you are, just say it. I just want to know who's manipulating you."

 

"My uncle knows about us now, the relationship we've been keeping secret all this time. My mother told me to quit being your personal manager. To avoid a scandal, we should stop everything." Finally, he admitted the truth.

 

"How did he find out? If you didn't say anything, and I didn't say anything, nobody would know. And let me tell you, I desperately wanted to talk about it. I wanted to tell other people. I wanted to go public with our relationship."

 

"The media...but my brother never gave in."

 

"Why does Gun need to tell people?"

 

"Why do you want to hide and sneak around? If you're going to lose, then lose. And who said it anyway?" He kept asking the same question.

 

"Someone followed me to the restroom and filmed me on the day you were filming a TV show. They heard everything we talked about."

 

"Who took the photo?"

 

"I don't know," Kel shook his head.

 

Ring!

Gun’s cell phone, which was on the bedside table, rang, interrupting him. He grabbed it, his anger simmering. It was the number for the secretary of the president of the modelling agency; normally, they would contact him through Kel, but this call to his direct number made it clear that Kel’s role as his personal manager had truly ended.

 

"Yes," he answered the call, putting it on speakerphone so the slender figure could hear as well. ("Nong Kant, is the filming scheduled for eight o'clock today?") A familiar voice asked, even though it was now six-thirty.

 

"Yes," Kantapong said, his gaze fixed only on Kel’s sweet face. ("You probably already know that Nong Kant had to change personal manager suddenly.")

 

"How would I know when nobody told me?" he asked, feigning ignorance even though he already knew, but only seconds ago. ("The chairman said you, Kel, would tell you yourself, so I didn't call.") He nodded slightly upon hearing this. Kel quickly looked away. His gaze betrayed his intention to escape without saying anything, because if Gun hadn't pressed him, he wouldn't have told him.

 

"Nobody told me," was another accusation he had to deal with regarding the smaller man. ("I'm sorry, but Ms Luksor will be taking over today. I've already informed her of the time and location.") She continued speaking in a cheerful voice.

 

"Ah... so, is the chairman going to the modelling agency today?" ("Yes, he's been at the modelling agency all day.")

 

"I'll come see him after I finish work on set," the petite figure immediately had a question in her mind as soon as Gun finished speaking ("Is there something urgent? I can inform him.") The person on the other end of the line asked.

 

"I'll bring Mr Kel in to see him." Now, the person addressed shook her head vigorously.

("Uh, well....")

 

"Why is everyone covering up the video when it's about me?" He didn't understand. ("I can't say much more than that, but it's best if you don't go anywhere with Kel, Nong Kant.")

 

"Why not?" He was very displeased that someone was telling him what to do, especially about a personal matter. ("Well, that clip...") She didn't finish her sentence, falling silent mid-sentence.

 

"I'll bring him in. If you're not satisfied, you can suspend me." Kantapong wasn't being arrogant or conceited about not wanting the job, but he felt that in some ways… This is really too much.

 

("Nong Kant, don't make a big deal out of it. He'll get angry.")

 

"That's all for now," I said, too lazy to listen further, so I hung up.

 

"I'm not going," Kel said immediately.

 

"You have to go! I didn't ask for your opinion." Fine, if it comes down to coercion, he'll do it.

 

"No! Untie me and let me go home!" Kel started to get irritated, causing Gun to glare at him.

"I told you not to struggle."

 

"Then let go. Why are you tying me up? I've already told you everything. It's because of that video that we can't be near each other. I'm not going anywhere with Gun again."

 

"Absolutely," he argued vehemently.

 

"Stop! And listen to me," Gun said, snapping them back to reality.

 

"No, get out." But Kel refused. He definitely wouldn't go anywhere with this model, risking being in the news.

 

"Fine, if you're so stubborn, then so be it," the man sneered, before lifting the rebellious man off the bed.

 

"Oh no, stop!" Severe pain shot through Kel's entire body.

 

Splash!

Upon entering, Gun placed Kel under the shower before turning the water on full blast. He chuckled softly at the sight of his wife getting soaked.

 

"Cough, cough, cough." Water got in his eyes, ears, and mouth, causing Kel to choke. His wet hair covered his face, wanting to brush it away, but he couldn't because his hands were still clasped behind his back.

 

"Is it cool yet?" a stern voice asked after the water was turned off.

 

"It's you who's hot, Gun," Kel retorted, looking up with his eyes still tightly shut.

 

"Yes, I'm hot because of you."

 

Splash!

"Gun, cough, cough." Gun turned the water on again, letting it run for several minutes until he was satisfied before turning it off.

 

"You can't escape me. Even if you try, I'll bring you back." He sat down in front of the smaller person, running his hand through their hair to dry it.

 

"Cold," his body started to shiver.

 

"Now, will you listen to me? Stop overthinking. No one can force us to stop loving each other."

 

"Kel's  slender lips were tightly pressed together, and his eyes began to redden."

 

"Go to the modelling agency with me. Go talk to him and make him understand." "He" here refers to the chairman. He needs to know about his grandson's pain. If he already knows he's so self-centred, there's no reason for Gun to work for this agency anymore.

 

"Gun, don't argue with him." He's so worried. The listener clenched his jaw again.

 

"You used to argue with me. Why don't you try arguing with me about this?"

 

"I'm really wrong. I secretly had an affair with Gun."

 

"So, are you the only one at fault who has to accept responsibility by resigning as my personal manager?" he retorted immediately.

 

"Because I can't let Gun quit being a model," that was Kel's reason. For him, he was just a trainee manager, but for Gun… He is a professional model.

 

"In the end, Kel worried about Gun without caring about his own feelings. You got hurt...cried often, but never felt sorry for yourself. You would sacrifice everything for me."

 

"Until when?" If the mistake is a hidden affair, then both are to blame. It's not like Kel will accept all the blame alone. Gun definitely won't.

 

"I just did the right thing. We have to stop everything here."

 

"If you don't feel sorry for yourself, please feel sorry for the love we've built together, from the initial liking to the blossoming of passion until now."

 

"I love it so much, please have mercy on it."

 

"Gun..." Hearing that, Kel felt guilty for thinking of abandoning a love that should have been beautiful. After all, love shouldn't bring suffering.

 

"Don't cry. I won't let you cry anymore," he said softly, seeing the expression on the other's face. It seemed like Kel was finally listening, but Gun still couldn't trust him. He needed to hurry and take a shower because it was almost eight o'clock, and Kel was still inside.

 

They were often naked in front of each other, so they weren't embarrassed. After bathing, Gun bathed Kel next, picked him up, dressed him, and then tied him up again as before.

 

"Can you not tie me up anymore?" a small voice murmured.

 

"Are you going to run away from me?" he retorted immediately. "If you can't answer, you'll have to be tied up like this. I have to go to work, but someone will stay with you until I return."

 

"Who?" Kel didn't like being with strangers, especially in a bedroom like this; it lacked privacy. Kantapong's phone rang again, so he left the room immediately. 

 

The reason he trusted Tin to watch over Kel was that Tin was the only one who knew Gun’s true feelings. 

 

Regarding him and Kel, when he arrived, he saw that Tin had brought Toey. Actually, his friend had a small meeting today, but when asked to keep an eye on his wife, he immediately said he was free. That's the behaviour of a nosy person who wants to see his Gun’s wife's face even though he's seen him before.

 

"Where's your wife? You only told me to watch over him, but you wouldn't say who it was."

 

"Kel."

 

"Huh?" When I said we'd already done it once, I thought we wouldn't do it again.

 

"Let's go," Gun said, cutting short the conversation before walking ahead into the elevator.

 

Didd didd! I love you!

 

"Damn it, Gun! What about you making me bring your all-black sex toy collection? Kel's  body can't handle it!" (Kel was about the same size as Toey.)

 

When I saw it, I almost cried and had to put it away. My friends kept teasing me for not using this set. That's why Gun called to ask for it.

"I just want the chain and handcuffs," he said.

 

"Is that P’Kel, the one who's Gun’s personal manager?" Tin asked, his eyes widening.

 

"Not anymore," Gun replied truthfully.

 

"What happened?" Tin asked suspiciously.

 

"The chairman knew about our relationship, so he told Kel to resign."

 

"Oh no, trouble's brewing." I've been through something similar before, but I got through it in the end.

 

"I don't really care about the news coverage because I've already done it, so I have to accept the consequences. But what I want to know most is who did it."

 

"What's going on?" Tin frowned in confusion. This meant there must be something deeper going on.

 

"Someone was filming us while we were together," he told his friends.

 

"Where, when, and who among the people there is the most suspicious? You handle it," Tin said. This kind of thing needs to be investigated thoroughly. If there were many people there, we had to interrogate them until we got everything out of them.

 

"..." Gun fell silent and thought. That day, only one person was in the bathroom with them.

 

"Kant, calm down," Toey said softly, noticing that Kant didn't look well.

 

"It's cooled down now, after being explosively hot."

 

"Don't tell me you're taking it out on P’Kel," Tin asked immediately.

 

"I don't know. Go see for yourself." 

 

Gun just tied him up and turned on the water to revive him, that's all. He probably won't be seriously injured. Tin and Toey went into the bedroom first. When Toey saw him, his eyes widened immediately. Soon after, Gun followed, his long legs striding quickly. Gun approached Kel, sat on the bed, then reached out and took his small wrist.

 

"You can't escape me," he whispered close to his ear.

 

"Does it hurt?" Toey asked, his eyes trembling, noticing the red marks on the bound ankle. But the other boy refused to answer. Toey was even more worried, also a bit of a compassionate person.

 

"Do you remember me?" This time, it was Tin who spoke up.

 

Kel nodded once.

 

"That's it, my friend, today I have to work. You have to eat, okay? Don't let me find out you haven't eaten."

 

"..."

"I'll come back to pick you up this afternoon. We'll go to the modelling agency together."

 

"I'm not going."

 

"This time you'll be disobedient, so I'll untie you," the handsome face grinned before he began to untie the measuring tape.

 

"It's very strange and contradictory. He's being stubborn, but Gun says he'll untie him."

 

"Use this instead."

 

Kantapong took a pair of black handcuffs out of the bag. The smaller man tried to move away but couldn't escape because their respective strengths were so different.

 

"And the legs will be replaced with chains," he said, and then pulled out a black chain.

 

"You cruel person, I'm no different from a prisoner," the slender figure said with a sullen expression, unable to resist Gun at all. Meanwhile, Toey moved closer to his boyfriend, and he was terrified.

 

"Yes, that's right. You're a prisoner, and you'll be punished for so many crimes. If I were to list them all, it would be impossible to finish, including everything you've concealed and everything you've done sarcastically."

 

"..."

 

"Tonight is yours."

 

He poured a bunch of all-black sex toys out of the bag. It wasn't just Kel who was shocked; Tin and Toey, who were watching, were equally stunned. It wouldn't be so bad if they were talking about this just the two of them, but why would Gun dare do that with outsiders present? Tin quickly pulled Toey out of the room, knowing they were being an unwanted third wheel.

 

"You know, Kant is scary now. We feel sorry for him," the shorter person said immediately. "Gun has never been like this before. Even Tin has never seen anything like it." Who would have thought that Gun, the calmest person in the group, would be like this when things were usually handled with logic rather than emotion, but now things have changed inexplicably.