AUTHOR'S POV
Macao came home to find Vegas sitting on the living room floor, his legs hugged to his chest, crying. Macao went to the kitchen, fetched a glass of water, and offered it to his brother.
"Has he gone?" Macao asked.
Vegas did not respond right away.
"Why did you do this? Wasn't he enough for you?" Macao pushed.
Vegas finally looked up, shouting, "I did this to protect you guys!"
He explained that since their dad's death, their business had been unstable. He had to solve the problem as soon as possible to prevent other competitors from hurting their family for money and position.
"So you slept with them... in order to get them to collaborate with us?" Macao's voice cracked. "No matter why you did this... It's not fair. It's not fair to P'Pete. You broke his trust." Tears began to stream down Macao's face as he cried.
Vegas sat consumed by guilt, admitting he had hurt someone he cared about deeply. "I know... I hurt him... I'll do anything to make it up to him... I won't ask him to forgive me...but please tell him to come back.... I can't live without him... Please Macao.... please....." Vegas pleaded with his brother, breaking down into heavy sobs.
Macao listened calmly, revealing he had actually known about the situation for quite some time. A surprised Vegas asked how.
Macao explained the night Pete had come home drunk he was crying before falling asleep. Pete had been talking in his sleep, revealing his pain.
FLASHBACK
Pete in distress during the night, whispering, "Why?...why did you have to do this to me?.... Wasn't I enough for you??? Why??...." Pete cried in his sleep, waking Macao.
Macao asked if he was okay, but Pete continued in his pained sleep-talk, "Why did u cheat on me Vegas? Why? I loved you so much... I trusted... I left everyone and everything for you..... I loved you Vegas.... I truly did.... Why?.....Why?..."
Macao heard Pete's words and realises his brother has hurt him.... He tears up.... He hugs Pete " sorry Phi... I don't know why he did this to you... But I am Sorry.... Don't cry....."
PRESENT
Macao had initially intended to speak with Pete the following day, but Pete hadn't said anything and had behaved normally. This left Macao feeling confused and selfish.
He remained silent because he didn't want Pete to leave. Macao reminded Vegas on how they had lived together all those years, and how he had never truly experienced the warmth of a family until Pete arrived in his life.
He remembered the day Vegas was fighting for his life; Macao was lost and didn't know what to do until Pete came to him, patted his head, and promised him that Vegas would be alright and back in a moment. That had been the first time he genuinely felt that warmth, a comfort.
Macao said he didn't want his exam to end because he was selfish. Macao realized that Pete would likely leave after his exams, as Pete didn't want their problem to affect his studies, which is why he had behaved as if nothing had happened throughout that time.
Macao didn't want him to leave, he is his family. But in the end, Pete left anyway.
Vegas then turned to his brother, apologizing sincerely. "Macao, I'm sorry... it's all because of me," Vegas said. Macao responded by telling Vegas that he was not the person to whom he should be apologizing to.
Suddenly there was a big noise from outside. Porsche and Tankun rushed inside the house, catching the attention of Vegas, who stood up seeing them.
Without warning, Porsche kicked Vegas hard in the chest, sending him crashing against the wall. Porsche then landed a hard punch on Vegas's face, causing it to start bleeding. As Porsche grabbed him for another punch, Kinn intervened, stopping him.
Kinn attempted to control the enraged man, telling him to stop. Porsche angrily retorted, "How could I? Don't you know what he did? Pete left. He left all of us because of him. I told him before, if he dares to hurt him, I'll kill him. And I'll do it now."
Kinn held Porsche back, keeping him away from Vegas.
Tankun approached Vegas, crying hysterically. He slapped Vegas while tearfully asking, "Why did you do this? He loved you so much; he even left all of us for you. Then why? Why did you have to do this to him?"
Vegas collapsed to the ground, crying uncontrollably as he offered apologies to an assembled group. Everyone in the room simply stared at him, watching his breakdown.
After a tense period, a sudden calmness returned to the room. Macao, still visibly emotional and crying, turned to Kinn, pleading, "P'Kin can you please find him? I miss him..." Kinn reassured the young man, promising, "Don't worry I'll find him..."
Porsche, however, was less optimistic. "I don't think you can..." he interjected, saying Pete was intelligent he would have anticipate their search efforts and had blocked all possible avenues of contact.
Macao looked at Porsche, asking if he truly believed Pete would return. Porsche offered comfort and hope, stating, "don't worry he loves you so much... He loves all of us.... He can't stay away from us for long... He'll be back soon.."
Tankun joined saying "yeah he will come back.... He can't stay away from me for long.... He will be back....he will..."
The entire group was consumed by sadness over Pete's departure. Vegas, in particular, was completely lost, unsure how to act or what to say. Though he was alive, he felt dead inside..... He felt lifeless...