Forgetting to breathe, Mok searched Kao's face. Kao's gaze drifted toward Mok's split lip.
Unable to hold back anymore, Mok slowly leaned closer. Kao's hand slid up to Mok's neck.
Their bodies grew warm.
Their lips brushed softly against each other, only making them crave more. Kao parted his lips slightly, and Mok responded the same way.
Thud...
A cold water bottle clattered onto the floor. The sandwiches dropped beside it, completely crushed from the impact.
Startled by the noise, Mok quickly pulled away.
Kao's eyes, however, remained fixed on Mok's lips.
Mok refused to turn around to see who it was and nudged Kao aside with his leg while noticing that Kao was still distracted.
Snapping back to reality, Kao gestured toward the distance. "Why are you here?" Kao choked out.
"I... I... That's right... why am I here..."
A few minutes earlier...
After Kao and Mok walked out, everyone else stayed behind.
Kaen tried to treat Ren's injuries with the first aid kit, but Ren immediately yelled at him.
Still irritated, Ren stormed off toward the resting area for the non-racers of K9, gripping the first aid box tightly in his hand.
"Wait... we're coming too." The others quickly followed after Ren.
Samy sighed. "Finally, I can breathe."
Kaen pressed a cold water bottle against Samy's cheek.
"Oh! Kaen... seriously."
"You looked stressed. Here, drink this."
"Thank you." Samy replied just as her phone vibrated. She checked the screen.
"Kaen, can you go to the front? Our food is here."
"Let me see." Kaen glanced at the message before quickly heading out. "Kids, let's eat something."
Samy and the others immediately moved toward the food area.
In front of K9, someone stood beside a motorbike, carrying two plastic bags filled with hot burgers and sandwiches.
The delivery girl adjusted her helmet just as Kaen hurried toward her.
Once he reached her, she asked, "Can you show me the order number?"
"Yes, here." Kaen showed it to her.
"Here you go." She handed over the bags before hesitating slightly. "Can I ask something? I'm just curious."
"Yes, you can. What's wrong?"
"Did you perhaps starve someone?"
"What?" Kaen stared at her in shock.
"I mean..." She tilted her head toward the group behind him. "They look like they haven't seen food in years."
Kaen slowly turned around.
Samy and the others were practically staring at the bags with shining eyes, looking like a pack of hungry dogs about to attack.
"I think I'm getting a headache." Kaen muttered.
"What a bunch of weirdos," the girl said. She got onto her bike and gave Kaen a contemptuous look.
"Thank you," he added before waving goodbye to the delivery girl.
Then he glanced back at the group again.
"They weren't even worried about the race anymore. Their entire focus was on the food."
From afar, Samy suddenly yelled—
"What are you standing there for like a mannequin?! Hurry up!"
"I'm coming... "
The sound of rustling paper filled the room as Kaen arranged the food for everyone.
Clack...
Kaen smacked Samy's hand away.
"Why?!"
"Wait first. Don't swallow it like you've never eaten before."
"Because sandwiches are my favorite. Give it to me."
"Hold on, Samy... don't we need to save some for that kid and Kao too?"
Scratching her head, Samy let out a sigh. "I completely forgot."
"I already knew that..." Kaen muttered under his breath as he continued sorting the food.
"Wait, Samy. Who's going to bring theirs to them?"
"I'm not doing it. You go yourself. Who knows what they're doing in there?"
"Samy, don't say things like that. What if the kids overhear you?"
"Oh please. You're the only one here. The kids are standing far away. Besides, it's not like we're innocent either."
Kaen was left speechless. "What?"
"We even did it in the locker room once."
The moment he heard that, Kaen immediately covered his face.
"You... Look at you acting embarrassed now. I'm already tired of this."
Pointing at Samy, Kaen narrowed his eyes.
"Samy, don't say that. You're the one who told us to behave like proper colleagues."
"That's because it affects my work ethics. We need to set an example for the new kids." Samy muttered the last word quietly.
"Forget it. Here." Kaen stuffed a sandwich into her mouth. "Eat, my dear coworker."
He pushed two sandwiches and a bottle of water toward her before avoiding eye contact.
"Don't be like that." Taking the sandwich out of her mouth, Samy spoke again. "But we still need someone to bring food to them."
At the same time, both of them slowly turned around.
Sky stood there cluelessly, staring into space.
"We got the perfect person for the mission..." Kaen murmured.
Samy and Kaen smirked together.
At that exact moment—
"What's wrong, Sky?"
"I suddenly feel cold all over."
Back to the present...
Covering his eyes halfway with his hand, Sky mumbled, "I didn't see anything. You guys can continue, Phi..."
Mok instantly stepped away from Kao and turned his face aside.
"Let me get ready..." Kao said loudly, still struggling to speak properly.
"Wait!" Mok hesitated. "The first aid kit... hurry..."
Mok quickly stretched out his hand. "Give it back to me."
Flashback—
Their lips brushed together as both of them lost themselves in that first moment. The first aid box slowly slipped from Mok's hand, but Kao instinctively caught it before holding it against his side again.
—End
"Oh! Right. Here..." Kao awkwardly handed over the first aid kit. "Why am I even here?
I-I'm going outside."
Mok only hummed in response.
Kao tried to walk past Sky.
"Phi... but you have a race. Did you forget?"
"No, how could I—"
"But the locker room is over there." Sky pointed ahead.
"That way? I know." Kao immediately sprinted off.
"Poor Phi... he completely forgot about it." Sky's eyes shifted toward Mok.
"Phi Mok." Sky called out.
Mok still refused to face him. "Khap... is something wrong?"
"I'll bring you another sandwich later."
Sky hurriedly picked everything up from the floor. "And... you two can continue whatever was interrupted. I won't come inside again."
"Wait..." Mok called out. But without waiting for a reply, Sky quickly rushed away.
"I missed the best part... stupid hands..." Sky muttered to himself, blaming the fallen bottle.
Meanwhile, Mok remained frozen, staring blankly at the first aid box.
Thunk...
He lightly knocked his forehead against it.
"Where did my sanity go?" he thought.
After placing the kit on the table in front of the mirror, he started cleaning his wounds.
"Ahh... it hurts now." He pressed a cotton bud against his split lip. "What am I supposed to tell Toffee if he finds out I got into a fight? I'm dead."
He slowly unbuttoned his shirt.
"Oh! It's not even a wound. Just bruises."
Even though Mok had no idea what he was doing, he still tried covering the bruises carefully.
A long breath escaped him.
He hadn't even closed the first aid kit when heavy footsteps approached from behind.
Mok slowly turned around, and his eyes instantly locked onto Kao.
The black racing suit hugged Kao perfectly. Red lines ran across the fire-retardant Nomex fabric, while the black-and-silver logo of Number 9 stood out sharply.
"Mok... Mok..."
"He's hot. Shit... Mok, what are you thinking?"
"But it's true. He looks really hot.
Wearing something like this makes him look even more... His racing suit is... I..."
Mok glanced around awkwardly.
"The air conditioner is on, so why is it so hot?"
He fanned himself with his shirt, trying to cool down.
"Mok... Mok... Mok..."
"What?! Why are you calling me so loudly?"
"Because you weren't responding."
Stepping closer, Kao brushed his fingers against Mok's face.
"Does it hurt?" Kao whispered near him.
"I... I..." Mok swallowed hard. "Shit... now it's even hotter."
Mok quickly avoided Kao's eyes.
"Kao... are you ready?" Samy's voice echoed from outside.
Meanwhile, Samy and Kaen stood near the entrance, pushing each other as both tried forcing the other to go inside.
"Samy, you go ask."
"I don't want to. You do it."
The two kept arguing quietly near the door.
Then Kao and Mok walked out together.
"What are you two talking about, Samy? Kaen?"
"Ahhhh!" Both of them screamed in shock.
"You two— why are you screaming like that?"
"We're fine! Let's go!" Kaen quickly replied in panic.
As everyone started moving again, Mok hesitated briefly before suddenly grabbing Kao's warm hand.
His face immediately turned red.
"Wait... I..."
***
Bonus — K9 Family
"Okay, Phi Kaen, It's recording. You need to answer honestly."
Adjusting the glasses he stole from Mok, Sky grinned proudly.
"You're threatening me now, Sky?"
"Think whatever you want. I'll come back later. I'm leaving."
"Shit. I need to return these glasses before Phi Mok notices." Sky immediately sprinted toward Kao's office.
"Wait, kid! Why is he running so fast?"
"Is it recording now? Can I say something?"
"Hi! Hello..."
"Okay."
"I'm Kaen khap. You guys already know me. I'm a former racer, but now I lead the new boys of K9." A small chuckle escaped from Kaen.
"Well. Let me tell you a secret. I'm currently training Mok. We've known him for a long time already. It would be a waste to ignore his talent. He might not realize it himself, but he definitely has potential."
"Oh! Sorry. The story hasn't reached that part yet. I told Sky to interview me a little earlier, but he didn't listen. So blame him instead."
"And no, I'm not revealing my real age. I hate that topic. Really hate it."
"Let's just say I'm... I'm..."
From outside—
"Just say you're an uncle!" Sky shouted.
"Sky, get lost!"
"Forget the age topic." Kaen cleared his throat awkwardly. "I'm not a picky eater."
"I have decent track records too. I'm not a genius or anything. Just an ordinary person trying hard to reach the best level."
"And yes, I have a girlfriend. But that's a secret."
"Phi, we already know. Why are you hiding it?"
"Sky! You little—" Kaen shouted back.
"I always treat Sky specially. He's like my real younger brother. Look at him teasing me now."
"Oh... shit."
"Sky, it's dark in here—"
"Phi Kaen... sorry... I think I messed up the switches."
"Sky, turn them back on."
"I can't... sorry, Phi..."
The moment he finished speaking, Sky bolted away after accidentally destroying the entire switchboard of the camera room.
"Seriously..." Kaen muttered while walking toward the door.
He tried opening it. "Why isn't it opening?"
His face froze. "Don't tell me."
"Sky! You little troublemaker!"
From far away—
"Sorry, Phi! I tried my best, but trouble always follows me!" Sky ran for his life.
To be continued...