Chapter Text
Khaotung jumped off the bus, nearly missing the last step as his shoes hit the pavement with a thud.
The scene of Bangkok greeted him immediately. The streets buzzed with life as cars honked at each other impatiently, and motorbikes weaved through traffic like they owned the roads. Street vendors shouted over one another, their voices blending into the constant noise while people rushed past, busy moving and talking.
“This is…” he muttered to himself, “…a lot.”
Khaotung stood there for a moment, taking it all in, his bag slung over one shoulder and his other hand clutching the handle of his luggage.
With a loud sigh, he pulled out the map that he had folded far too small in his back pocket. He squinted at the now very crumpled paper and traced his finger along the pathway.
“Okay. I got this. First, I go straight, then I have to turn left, then take a right…and another right?” He mumbled as he spun the map around, “Am I even holding this map correctly?”
He began to walk through the crowded street anyway. People bumped into his shoulder as they rushed to wherever they were headed. A dog was barking at another dog down an alley. A man shouted into his phone while buying street food. A baby was wailing in the distance.
“Damn,” Khaotung whispered to himself as he clutched his backpack tighter, “City people are scary.”
After a few wrong turns, a few times he tripped over air and a brief moment where he considered asking a passerby for directions but chickened out, Khaotung found himself in a quieter area.
Much quieter.
He stood at the start of a pathway that looked oddly empty compared to the bustling life he had just come from. The area felt almost deserted. There was no one walking by, no cars honking, and the air felt cooler, shaded by overhanging trees instead of tall buildings.
“This feels like the start of a horror movie,” Khaotung mumbled as he glanced back at his map, “But I am so sure the map says it’s this way...”
Khaotung walked slowly, eyes fixed on the map that he held up high in front of him.
“Okay, so I’m supposed to take a ri-“
Thud
He walked straight into something.
Or someone.
Khaotung stumbled back slightly, blinking in surprise before looking up.
“Woah,” he muttered.
The man standing in front of him had the most striking emerald eyes he had ever seen. For a split second Khaotung could swear they glowed, but he convinced himself that it was probably just the sunlight reflecting off them.
“Woah, your eyes!” Khaotug blurted out as he pointed to them, “They are so…unique.”
The other guy just stared at him blankly.
Khaotung slowly lowered his finger and awkwardly brought his hand to scratch the back of his neck.
“…Right. Sorry. That must have been weird.”
Amid the silence, Khaotung took the opportunity to look at the man properly.
The man was dressed in jeans and a black hoodie, which brought Khaotung to think ‘Seriously? In this weather?’. His skin was pale, almost corpse-like. His lips looked dry and slightly flaky. He stood completely still, his hands resting stiffly at his sides.
“I’m not feeling well,” the guy said flatly, breaking the silence. His voice was low, almost monotone.
Then his gaze dropped to the ground, “And you stepped on my pill.”
Khaotung quickly lifted his foot to reveal a small red pill, now crushed under his shoe.
“Shoot. Oh my god. I’m sorry,” Khaotung dropped his bag to the ground and crouched to reach in, frantically rummaging through it, “I might have something here-“
“No need.”
Khaotung froze mid-search, his hand hovering over the zipper of the front compartment.
“Oh, okay then,” Khaotung said as he slowly zipped his bag back up and stood again, awkwardly.
The silence returned. They both stood there staring at each other.
Well, the guy stared, while Khaotung’s eyes darted everywhere except the person in front of him.
Khaotung eventually cleared his throat.
“So…you must live around here, yeah?” He said as he pulled open his map again, “Can you help me find- HEY!“
Before he could even finish his sentence, the other guy had reached into the side of Khaotung’s bag and pulled out his umbrella. He opened it in one smooth motion without saying a word.
Khaotung’s brain lagged for a second, “…Huh?”
The man turned and walked away, with Khaotung’s umbrella in hand.
“Wait- Hey! What the hell!” Khaotung shouted, taking a step forward before stopping himself. He glanced at his luggage, then back at the retreating figure. He couldn’t just leave his luggage here, empty alleys were basically invitations for theft.
“You know what? Fine!” he yelled after him, throwing his hands into the air, “Not like I needed it anyway! You could have just asked, you know?”
The man did not even look back.
Khaotung huffed, picking up his backpack and slinging it over his shoulder again.
“It doesn’t even look like it’s gonna rain anytime soon.”
After probably another 15 minutes of walking and a dramatic but brief emotional breakdown, Khoatung finally found himself standing in front of the so-called cheap mansion.
“Huh. At least it wasn’t a scam.”
It didn’t look that bad. In fact, it was surprisingly nice. The house had two floors, a grey exterior, and a small outdoor area that looked perfect for hanging out. It looked slightly old, a bit worn out, but it doesn’t look like it would be in a horror movie.
A murder mystery movie…maybe.
He pulled out his phone, rereading the message from the landlady.
The other boys should be home to greet you. If they aren’t, then feel free to look for the spare key under the mat. Welcome to Bangkok :)
Khaotung walked up to the door and rang the doorbell.
Ding
Ding
Ding
When no one answered, he frowned and bent down, lifting the doormat. The key was right there.
“Well…that’s reassuring.”
He unlocked the door and stepped inside.
Then he stopped midway. The entire house was dark.
Not decoration or furniture-wise.
It was literally dark.
“Why is it so dark?”
The tall curtains were drawn shut, blocking out nearly all natural light. The lights were switched off. A chill crept up Khaotung’s spine, though he couldn’t quite tell if it was because of the cool air inside… or the fact that he was starting to feel creeped out.
“Is there no one home?” Khaotung muttered as he looked around. He placed his bag down quietly on a stool near the kitchen island.
“Hello?”
He took another step forward.
Then the front door behind him creaked open.
Khaotung turned and-
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA INTRUDER!”
A shorter man had just walked in and was now clinging to a taller man like his life depended on it.
“Mix, quick!” The taller one shouted, “Do something!”
“Woah, woah, woah!” Khaotung immediately raised both hands in surrender, “Sorry! I didn’t mean to barge in. I’m the new tenant! Khaotung!”
Mix and the other guy froze.
They looked at each other.
Then at Khaotung.
Then down at their current position.
And immediately jumped apart.
“Of course we knew that. Namtan told us you were coming,” Mix said smoothly, brushing imaginary dust off his shirt. He stepped forward and extended his hand, “Just wanted to give you a warm welcome. I’m Mix! This is my boyfriend, Earth. We live here, too.”
Earth nodded as his hand reached over to flick on the light switch. “Nice to meet you,” he said.
Khaotung blinked.
“…Right.”
He shook Mix’s hand anyway.
“Great to meet you guys,” Khaotung said with a smile, “And yeah, that was… quite the warm welcome.”
He shook Earth’s hand too.
“No wonder the house was dark,” Khaotung continued, “You guys just got back from somewhere?”
“Yeah,” Earth said, “We went to the café down the street. Hey, we should bring you sometime.”
“Sure! I’d like that. Now, uh, may I know where my room is?”
After settling into his room, which was surprisingly spacious and had a decent view since he had the only room on the second floor, Khaotung took a quick shower and changed into something more comfortable before heading back out.
He found Earth and Mix sitting at the dining table. Both of them looked up the moment he entered.
Almost too quickly.
“Oh yes, Khaotung!” Mix said brightly, pulling out a chair for him, “Please please, have a seat. We have a few questions to ask you.”
Khaotung hesitated, “Should I be scared?”
“No!” Earth said.
“Maybe!” Mix said at the same time.
Earth elbowed Mix, who winced and glared at him.
Khaotung laughed awkwardly and sat down, “Okay, sure.”
Mix leaned forward, eyes wide with curiosity.
“Where are you from?”
“Oh, I came from Chiang Khan.”
“Do you have siblings?”
“I have a younger sister.”
“What does garlic taste like?”
“Wait, what?”
“Do you go out at night often?”
“Why do you even need to know that?”
And before Earth and Mix could bombard him with more questions, the door opened.
Khaotung turned, and froze.
Entered the man from earlier. The rude, umbrella-stealing, green-eyed man.
“Hey! It’s you!”
The guy glanced at Khaotung blankly.
Then, without a word, he walked past them and headed straight down the hallway.
Khaotung stared after him, mouth slightly open.
“Err…that’s First,” Earth said, “He’s really kind, but he doesn’t do well with strangers. It’s okay, he’ll warm up to you soon.”
Khaotung blinked and pointed toward the room First had just disappeared into.
“But…he stole my umbrella.”
“He did WHAT?”
“You know what, never mind,” Khaotung said, shaking his head, “Is it just you 3 here?”
Mix glanced at Earth before looking back at Khaotung.
“There is another guy,” Mix said, lowering his voice dramatically, “His name is Leo. He’s not here now, probably out to find his next prey, so be very careful of him.”
Khaotung stared, eyes widening in horror, “Excuse me?”
“Don’t scare him like that!” Earth said, sitting up straight, “Leo is a really nice and chill guy. He just…has his moments.”
“Wait, you mentioned prey? What do you mean?”
Mix frowned slightly, “Wait, you don’t know?”
Khaotung leaned forward with his eyebrows raised, “Know what?”
“We are-“
“Mix.”
The low voice cut through the room.
They all turned.
First was standing in the hallway, giving them a death glare, one that felt like it could actually kill, because Khaotung suddenly couldn’t move. It was as if those green eyes were pinning him in place.
Then First stepped forward, stopping right next to Khaotung. He leaned slightly closer.
“Listen here,” he started, “Rule number 1 in this house is do not invade other people’s privacy. Just do your own thing.”
“Wait,” Mix interrupted, “We have rules?”
“Well, I’m setting them up now,” First said, his eyes still fixed on Khaotung, “And that also means stop asking too many questions. And stop giving too much information.”
The room fell so silent you could probably hear a leaf land on the ground outside.
“Do I make myself clear?”
Mix and Earth nodded violently.
Khaotung let out something that sounded suspiciously like a whimper, “Crystal.”
First held his gaze for a moment longer.
Then turned and went back to his room.
Earth exhaled loudly, “Phew. Sorry about that, Khaotung. He has, uh, his moody days.”
“Moody?” Khaotung repeated.
“That was him being nice,” Mix whispered, which earned him another elbow jab from Earth.
“Ow!”
Earth clapped his hands together and offered Khaotung a bright smile, “Anyway! Do you need a tour?”
Khaotung looked toward the hallway where First had disappeared.
Then back at Earth and Mix, who were both grinning at him.
And nodded with a polite smile.
What a great start, Khaotung thought.