Mamushi sauntered toward the lounge, moving carefully because of his injury.
"When I picked you up last year, you weren't this heavy."
Mamushi smacked Ren's butt again.
"But that's not a problem. I can still lift you. We can try anything we want."
"You scumbag… don't mess with me," Ren whined.
Mok stood there awkwardly, unsure what to do as he watched someone carry Ren away.
Even the sound of his own footsteps faded into silence.
Mamushi closed the distance between himself and Mok.
"Who is he?"
Both Mok and Mamushi wondered the same thing.
At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway leading to the lounge.
"Why can't I find him anywhere?"
Kao had searched from the locker room all the way here, yet Mok was nowhere to be seen.
Since it was Mok's first time at K9, worry kept building inside him. He couldn't stop thinking about how poorly he had taken care of him today.
Suddenly, Kao paused in front of a glass wall.
"Is he angry because I kissed him without his permission?"
The thought lingered in his mind as he quickened his pace toward the lounge.
The moment he finally spotted Mok standing there safely, a sigh of relief escaped his lips.
A soft smile appeared on Kao's face as he approached.
Then he noticed someone else.
'Mamushi.'
An invited guest of K9.
Kao stopped instantly.
Their eyes met.
A calm but beautiful smile slowly spread across Mamushi's face.
"Nong…" he called softly.
"I missed you."
Mamushi couldn't hide how happy he was to see Kao. Despite his surprise, Kao looked just as emotional.
"P'… no… Mamushi…"
"How are you here?"
Mamushi stepped closer and gently brushed Kao's hair aside. They were nearly the same height, yet standing together carried a strange sense of familiarity.
It felt comforting.
"I'll come back later. I still have unfinished business with this one."
Mamushi tightened his hold around Ren's waist.
Kao gave a quiet nod.
Just as Mamushi was about to leave the lounge—
"Mamushi." Kao called out softly from behind.
Mamushi halted but didn't look back.
"Okaeri." (Welcome back.)
Mamushi froze. His eyes almost turned red.
"Tadaima." (I'm home.)
Then he continued toward the K9 entrance.
Along the way—
The atmosphere felt oddly calm, like a strange kind of welcome. Meanwhile, Ren shifted his body restlessly in Mamushi's arms.
"Don't be naughty, Ren. First, we're going to the hospital. After that… I don't need to explain the rest."
Ren hummed and wrapped his arms around Mamushi's neck.
"Also, I haven't forgotten that you tried to hurt Kao."
"For God's sake… how does this snake know everything?"
A question burned in Ren's mind.
"Aren't Kao and Mamushi supposed to be enemies? Why are they acting so close?"
He cursed inwardly.
Mamushi, as Ren had already said, had another nickname.
Snake.
A poisonous one.
Like a viper, he surrounded his prey before striking. Only those deeply involved in the racing world truly understood how dangerous he could be.
On the surface, Mamushi had a good reputation, but behind it, many key figures knew his real nature.
Of course, Ren knew as well.
And even knowing that, he still chose to provoke someone like Mamushi.
Now he would have to face the consequences.
"Did you say something, Ren?"
Mamushi smacked his butt again.
"Stop hitting me! Why do you keep doing that?"
"Because you like it. You always prefer violent and aggressive types anyway. Also—"
"I got it! I got it! Just stop talking!"
Ren buried his face in embarrassment for the rest of the walk.
Ren was the type who fell in love easily. He never stayed with the same person twice.
He never paid much attention to Kao—just another nameless racer in the crowd. That was all.
The only reason Ren even recognized Kao's name was because he had heard rumors about a high-profile match between Kao and Mamushi that got canceled.
Otherwise, he never would have paid attention.
Believing the K9 owner was just a wealthy outsider instead of a true racer, Ren had arrogantly claimed that all of K9's achievements were merely bought with money.
And now, suddenly… he had a crush on Kao.
A spoiled rich guy… who once tried to charm Kao in his own way, now found himself caught in Mamushi's venom instead.
Back at the lounge—
Kao watched Mamushi leave.
"If you want to go with him, then go. Why are you still standing here?"
Kao immediately shook his head.
But Mok ignored him and headed toward the back hallway instead. He had already seen enough drama for one day.
"Mok… wait…"
"You misunderstood."
Mok stopped and shot him a glare. "Why would I? "
Lie.
First, Kao had hugged and carried Ren earlier. Mok tried to ignore it.
Then suddenly, a strange Japanese man appeared and started speaking with Kao as if Mok wouldn't understand anything.
But he did understand a little.
Years of watching anime finally became useful. And right in front of him, that man casually touched Kao's hair.
"Are they exes? Or something worse?" Mok whispered.
"Mok…"
That single call made everyone around the track turn their attention toward the lounge area.
Even Samy, Kaen, and the others looked over.
"Are they fighting, Samy?"
The distance wasn't enough to hide the tension.
"I think so…"
"It looks like Kao is having a hard time," Samy and Kaen said at the same time.
Back to Mok—
"Don't call me. I'm leaving."
Kao quickly rushed after him.
"Just listen to me, Mok."
Mok suddenly stopped, making Kao bump into him.
"I'm listening," Mok muttered, clearing his throat.
"He's my brother… well, cousin."
Mok stared at him in disbelief.
"You're from Japan?"
"Y-yes… sorry. No, some of my father's relatives are Japanese. Mamushi is my cousin."
Mok avoided Kao, clearly flustered.
He wanted to leave, but somehow ended up showing a side he usually kept hidden. Even Mok didn't fully understand why he was acting this way around Kao.
Kao gently grabbed his hand.
"Are you still angry?"
Mok pressed a palm lightly against Kao's chest.
"No…"
The familiar scent around Kao only made him more uneasy.
"Mok, come with me. Didn't I promise we'd have lunch together?"
Kao checked his phone—lunch time had already passed.
Mok studied Kao's expression. Kao looked genuinely upset.
"I didn't keep my promise," Kao thought.
Seeing that, Mok softened. "We can do it tomorrow instead. Just call me… I'll come."
Kao nodded, though he still didn't want to let go of Mok's hand.
"Then… you're leaving?"
"Yes, khap. You don't need a ride, right?"
"Mhm." Kao still looked down.
Mok slowly stepped away and headed toward the parking lot, feeling slightly guilty.
"Mok, I'll come along to keep you company."
Mok hid a small smile at Kao's words.
The five-minute walk somehow stretched into more than fifteen minutes, as both of them slowed their pace little by little.
Mok pulled his car keys from his pocket as they finally reached the parking lot.
At that moment, someone called from behind.
"Kao…"
Both Kao and Mok turned at the same time.
A familiar figure approached them.
"Oat… you finally came."
"Is that how you greet a friend who helped you, Kao?"
Kao pointed at himself dramatically. "So now this is my fault too?"
Oat glanced toward Mok.
"Oh? Looks like you're taking good care of my junior."
Mok greeted him politely, and Oat returned it just as casually.
Then someone peeked out from behind Oat.
A soft voice followed.
"Sawasdee khap…"
A boy wearing the same uniform as Mok stepped forward, with slightly messy hair and a wrinkled shirt.
Both Kao and Mok greeted him back.
Kao then gave Oat a teasing grin.
"You jerk—"
"Don't! At least think about my situation. My junior is standing right here," Oat muttered quietly to Kao, making sure Lamon and Mok couldn't hear.
"You're late, Oat," Kao remarked.
"I had some unavoidable things to take care of," Oat replied smoothly.
Kao let out a low chuckle upon hearing that, his gaze shifting meaningfully toward Lamon.
"Right. So, you got your gear pin back?"
"That's right."
Oat looked over at Mok. "You're really taking great care of my junior, right."
"Oat, stop it," Kao grumbled.
While their teasing continued, Lamon and Mok stood there awkwardly.
They didn't know whether they should greet each other properly or not.
In the end, both gave a small forced smile. The silence between them felt a little uncomfortable.
Oat turned to Lamon. "Let's take a quick walk around here."
Lamon nodded with a soft smile.
"Then we're leaving. See you later, Mok."
"Bye…" Lamon added quietly.
"Oh, wait. Mok, you look different from this morning. Where are your glasses?"
Mok searched for the right words. "My glasses... I..."
Kao cut in immediately. "They fell on the floor. He can't use them anymore."
"Are you okay? You can see properly, right?"
Mok nodded and confirmed that he could, explaining that he already had a spare pair inside his car.
"Then have a safe drive, Mok."
"Kao, aren't you coming?"
"You go ahead. I might follow you later."
As they walked away, Oat casually fixed Lamon's shirt. Before disappearing inside, he waved once more at Kao and Mok.
Watching Oat and Lamon, Kao suddenly whispered,
"I'm jealous of them." His eyes drifted toward Mok.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing. I was just wondering when I'll get a chance like that… to walk together with you like them."
"So did we just run here?"
"Mok… why are you acting cold again?"
Mok frowned slightly.
Still, both of them pretended not to notice the bite marks on Oat's neck.
Neither of them was innocent enough to misunderstand that.
An awkward silence settled between them.
"I'm going now."
Mok opened the car door.
Kao called softly again.
"Mok…"