VEGAS

2 WEEKS AGO

I just told Pete my whole plan and as I can guess he's not impressed at all. 

"You can't possibly think that I'll just stand still when I watch you purposely getting shot, right?" He asked in an angry tone.

"I know, but this is the easiest plan I can come out with" I said in soft tone "I still have the respect and trust from the clients and the branch leaders, we have to use it smartly"

"Make yourself get shot is not smart, Vegas" Pete said

I sigh "It will be ok, Nop is a sharpshooter, he won't miss"

"That's what I'm afraid of, what if he doesn’t miss?"

"Pete…" I said in a begging voice "I promise I will be ok"

"You can't promise me anything when you're not even the one who'll hold the gun, Vegas" his voice sounded upset but afraid at the same time.

"Then what should I do?" I ask, seeing him like this makes me sad too "what should I do to make you feel I will be ok?"

He didn’t answer for a few seconds. It looks like the gear inside his brain is turning really hard, then suddenly he lift his head and said with a determined face "Let me do it, Instead of Nop, let me be the shooter"

"What?! No?!" I said immediately 

"Then I will never let you do this plan"

"But, Pete…" I really don't know what to say to him, I never expect he will say this idea.

"I can only sure you will be ok if I, myself is the one who do the shooting" he said confidently 

"But… it will burden you, you… you will feel guilty and you will cry… it will hurt you" I can't even form a complete sentence to describe my reasons. My craziness must be infecting Pete too.

"It will hurt me more if I just deliberately let another person to do this" he said still with the same determination "If you really want to do this plan, let me do this, only with this I can feel you will be safe"

PETE 

1 WEEK AGO

This is totally a crazy bad idea, why did I agree to do this, anyway? Oh, wait! This is my own idea, and I am volunteering to do this. I've been anxious since last night that I can't sleep at all. Vegas hugged me all night and kept telling me that everything will be ok but I know he was also as anxious as I am.

I've practiced a lot for a week. I'm never a sharpshooter but I'm not a bad shooter either. The problem is all my life I never shoot to miss. Now for the first time I need to miss or I'll kill my own stupid crazy boyfriend.

I must have looked really anxious while we all watched Vegas in the next door room because Porsche kept looking at me with a worried face. I excuse myself to go to the restroom to get away from them.

This whole area of the restaurant has been booked by us so no one dares to be near here. I managed to get into the room next to Vegas’s room without anyone seeing me. I pulled out my gun, placed the silencer and put on the  glasses.

And… here I am, I stand right behind my own lover holding a gun and wearing a stupid see thru glasses ready to shot him. The cue is when Vegas nudges his glass. I need to be very precise with the timing or I'll mess up the whole thing and kill him. Easy right? NOT AT ALL!

My hand literally trembled and I was about to abort the mission. But I know I need to do this, Vegas’s plan depended on me and I have to do this without any mistakes. I myself want to do this and I have to do this. I took a deep breath and positioned myself. I can do this! When Vegas gave me the cue, I just took the shot. I saw him fall from his chair and scream in pain. OH GOD! I just shot him! I really really shot him!

I almost ran to Vegas’s room still holding my gun and wearing the glasses. Thankfully I remember to keep both of them before I appear at Vegas’s room. Everyone was already in there, the client was screaming, and everyone was in panic. I saw Vegas bleeding so much and my soul feels like it just left my body, did I shoot the wrong place? Why is there so much blood?

Khun Kinn and a few bodyguards literally dragged the client out of the room and gave me space to get closer to Vegas. I sat next to him and held his hand. I want to ask if it’s hurt a lot, did I hit the wrong place, I want to say I’m sorry but my mouth was just frozen like the rest of my body, I feel like crying but maybe the tears are also frozen because nothing came out.

Vegas keeps saying that he’s ok, that everything is fine. But how can I believe him when he’s bleeding so much. Porsche and Arm were also there with me trying to hold Vegas’s wound so it won’t cause him to bleed out. Why did the ambulance take so long to get here? what if he bleeds out to death and it’s all because of me. I think I scream out something but I don’t know what, waiting for the ambulance feels like years for me. I don't know when or where I’m anymore. All I think about is Vegas and how he bleeds out so bad. I don’t remember when the ambulance finally came, and how I got to the hospital. Everything seems like a dream for me, riding the ambulance and waiting outside the operating room. 

I got my mind and soul back into my body when the doctors pushed him out of the operating room and told us all that he’ll be just fine. Everything is ok and I didn’t shoot the wrong place. I followed him into the room that became our home for more than 2 months. One hour, the doctor said he’ll wake up in one hour then I can completely breath in realieve. I didn't even realize when Khun Kinn joined me and Porsche in the room, he said something about Arm looking for the shooter by watching the CCTV and I can just smile. The shooter is right here in front of you guys and you won’t get anything from the CCTV.

Porsche assured me that everything will be ok and that they will catch anyone who did this, but really I just want them to be gone and give me and Vegas some time alone. I told Porsche to just go home and clean himself since he is covered in Vegas’s blood and Khun Kinn also agreed with the idea. When they finally get out of the room, I can feel my tears finally come out. I was crying without realizing it.

I don’t know how long time has passed. I was just sitting there alone holding Vegas’s hand. My tears already dried some time ago. Then I could feel his hand moving and he started to open his eyes. It feels like a heavy burden just lifted up from my shoulder. 

He smiled when he saw me and said “Hey… sharpshooter”

I immediately kissed him before he can say anything else 

VEGAS

PRESENT TIME

I can see clearly in his expression that Porsche is regretting his decision to ask me for help. 

“Didn’t I already tell you, If we are really going to do this we’ll do it my way and you don't always need to know about the whole details, you agreed to it” I said to him.

“But I never think it will involve Pete shooting you and… and… all of this…” he’s too shocked to function properly.

“Just so you know, I myself want to be the shooter” said Pete

“Yeah and why I’m not surprised about that” Porsche massaging his temple and walking back and forth not knowing what he wanted to say next.

“Then…” I fold my arms on my chest waiting for him to say anything else “You want to know about anything else?”

He kept silent and just looked at the floor for a few seconds before looking at me again and asking “Why, Why all this?”

I sigh before starting to explain to him “Since my uncle killed my dad, the clients and the branch leaders have been anxious. He chose you as the minor family leader meaning he wants control in both the main and the minor family and they don’t like it”

“I know that, the branch leaders been pressuring me non stop these past week and it can got me crazy anytime” said Porsche

“And only now they have a reason to say something because I created the reason, with these, we can shake my uncle’s authority and reduce his influence in the whole clan”

“But still this is just too dangerous. What if because of this he really tried to kill you?”

“He won’t” I glanced at Pete when I said that.

“How are you so sure?” Porsche asked.

“After I make him look like he planned to kill me, he won’t do it for real, it will feel like he is granting my wish. At least for now, he will keep me alive” this is a lie actually, I said this just to make Pete feel a bit relieved, because in reality I too think my uncle can kill me any time.

“That’s still not an assurance” Porsche literally sees through my lies.

“My uncle… “ I don’t know how I should say this “He’s faking his own death to lure the whole minor family to attack the main family so he had a reason to kill his own brother and take over both the main and minor family. All of that, for my uncle’s standart, that’s just too reckless and clumsy”

“Killing is killing, Vegas, he doesn’t need to do it neatly or anything” said Porsche.

“No, not for my uncle” I took a deep breath and tried to explain it so he could understand “If he really wants my papa dead, he’ll do it a long time ago before papa gained too much support and trust from the branch leaders and clients. Killing him now and with this way won’t gain too much benefit for him”

Porsche looked like he was thinking for a few seconds then asked “So what’s your point?”

“He has other reason” I said “But I still don’t know exactly what”

Porsche laughed “You did all of this for a reason you still don’t know?”

“I did all of  this to make him think I want my place back at the minor family, to distract his focus on something else while I’m looking for the real reason why he killed my papa, and why he did it now” 

“What makes you so sure that he has another reason?” Porsche asked me, there’s a frown on his forehead, all of this must be so confusing for his little brain.

“This room was my papa’s office” I pointed to our surrounding “Nop told me, the day after my papa died, my uncle came here by himself, all of his bodyguards were waiting outside and he was here, inside this room, alone for more than an hour” 

“He was looking for something?” Porsche guessed.

“Yes, and he didn’t want anyone to see whatever he was looking for” I move to a painting behind my papa’s desk “He find it”

I lifted the painting and revealed a safety box behind the painting. The safety box door was broken and the contents were all gone.

Porsche took a look at the safety box and his frown got deeper “You don’t know what’s inside it?”

I shake my head “My uncle is never a locksmith but somehoe, he manages to forcefully open this safe by himself. It only means he really really didn't want anyone to see what’s inside”

“Maybe it’s something related to the company?” said Porsche

“It wasn’t, if it was my papa will share it with me, but he never even tell me the code to open this safe”

"Then what?"

"I don't know"

“You really really have no idea what's inside the safe and why Khun Korn wanted to take it so badly?” Porsche sounded really disappointed.

I look at Pete before I said my next sentence “Maybe… we have something”

“This safe wasn’t the only safe Khun Gun had in this office” said Pete “I accidentally found another one when I’m looking for a book here”

Pete grabs a book from the bookshelves and opens it. The book was not a book at all, it was a secret safety box inside a book. He opened the unlocked safety box and took out two pieces of paper.

“I myself don’t even know papa had this kind of safety box inside here. these books has been here for a long time, collecting dust without no one ever touch it”

Porsche read those two papers and got even more confused “DNA Test?”.

I nod my head. I know what’s inside the paper. One is a DNA test dated 3 years ago. The result was a 0% DNA match and that the two subjects didn’t have any blood relation at all. The other one was dated only 5 months ago. The result was a 100% DNA match and the most possible relation between the two subjects was…

“First cousin?” Porsche read the result from the other paper “It might be a DNA test between you and Kinn”

I laugh hearing that “You think my papa will save a DNA test between me and Kinn inside a secret safety box? Everybody knows me and Kinn are first cousins”

“Then who? Who are the subjects of these DNA tests” Porsche sounds stressed now.

“I don’t know” I said calmly

“Then who knows? Who can we ask about all of these?” asked Porsche, totally frustrated.

“Your mom probably know” I said

"My mom?" He chuckles "She barely even recognizes me and my brother"

"Can I meet her, though, your mom?" I finally asked the question I've been wanting to ask.

"What for?" Ask Porsche, suddenly being defensive.

"Talk to her" I said shortly.

He looked at me with suspicion "Will you do something to her?".

"Did 'doing something to her' include talking to her?" I ask him.

Porsche still looked at me suspiciously and didn’t say anything for a few seconds.

“Can you make time for me to meet her?” I ask again

I know what Porsche is thinking right now. For him, his family, especially his brother and mother are the most important thing in his life, he will do anything to protect them with everything he has. But he also wants answers, and he knows I can help him to find it. 

"You won't do anything to her right?" ask Porsche again.

I rolled my eyes "No! I really really only want to talk wo her" I'm telling the truth here, I really has no intention to do anything to he except for talking.

Porsche went silent again. It looks like he still thinking about what possibly goes wrong if I ever meet his mom.

“Alright, I’ll find you some time to meet my mom” Porsche finally answered "But you know my mom's condition, right? she's not in her best state of mind"

“That, I will decide for myself” I said.

I thought I need to wait for days or weeks or months to meet Aunty Namphueng. But the next day Porsche called me and said he got me some time to meet his mom.

She still lived inside the room where my papa was shot to death. Porsche told me that Uncle Korn forbade him to move his mom to another room because he said it will affect her mental state. 

When me together with Pete and Porsche got inside her room she just sat and stared blankly at a painting that was her own creation. She still looks as beautiful as she is in the picture that my papa had. But the cheerful and lively aura that she got in the picture does not exist anymore now.

I have a reason to come here but this reason was completely nonsensical and just based on my crazy guts. I don't know if I will get what I'm looking for here or just go home empty handed. But this is worth trying and to try it I need to be alone with Aunty Namphueng without anyone inside the room. For that part, I can trust my Pete.

"Mom… " Porsche kneel in front of his mom "Someone is here to meet you"

Aunty Namphueng smiled at Porsche but didn’t seem to listen to what Porsche said. Porsche gave me a sign to come closer and kneel beside him, so I did just that.

"This is Vegas" Porsche introduce me "He is Uncle Gun's oldest son"

"Hello, Aunty… "I greeted her but she only gave me a blank look and didn’t say anything.

"Mom… Vegas is… ah!" Before Porsche can finish his sentence, Pete accidentally kicks a can of paint and all of the blue paint now spilled onto Porsche's body.

"I'm so sorry, Porsche, I'm so so sorry" Pete really really looks sorry and tried to wipe the pain with a handkerchief which obviously didn't work.

"Why are you so clumsy Pete?" said Porsche angrily. 

"I didn’t see the opened can, I'm so sorry, but you really need to take your clothes off and take a bath or it won't wash off" said Pete

"Just go take care of yourself" I said

Porsche looked at me, then to his mom who didn’t even react to everything that just happened, and then looked back at me again.

"Stay here! Don't say or do anything to my mom!" Said Porsche sternly.

He walked out from the room with Pete following behind him. Finally I was alone, only with Aunty Namphueng.

I walk around the room and look at the surroundings. Aunty Namphueng was back staring at the painting again and didn't seem to care about my existence. 

I counted, one, two, three, at least four hidden cameras were placed in every corner of this room. I don't need to be a genius to find out who places them here. I bet Porsche didn’t even know that his mom was secretly being watched all the time.

I stand at the corner of the room which I thought will be a possible blank spot and press the device on my pocket. The same device that we use to break all the CCTV at the Japanese Restaurant.

I know my uncle is most probably watching me right now and he'll come here any minute when he realizes the cameras have been broken. So I don't have time.

I quickly kneel in front of Aunty Namphueng again and look straight into her eyes.

"Aunty… I broke all of the cameras, he can't see us now, so if you can understand what I'm saying now, please say something to me"

I waited for her reaction, but she didn’t react at all and still only stared at me blankly. 

"Aunty… it's ok, you can say something to me, he can't see us now" I tried again, but still no reaction.

I curse in anger. That's it, my gut is wrong, I got here for nothing.

I was about to get up and turn off the device but suddenly, Aunty Namphueng grabbed my hand and pulled me back to her side.

I can see her eyes change, then I heard her whispering very clearly into my ear "Find your mother, Vegas, and please… get my sons as far away as you can from P'Korn"