Tee wasn't going very fast when he turned into his neighborhood. After a moment, he realized two other motorbikes had slipped in behind him. At first, he thought, Good, at least I'm not alone on the road. But then those two bikes sped up and flanked him on both sides, and one of them called out teasingly.
"Hey there, cutie. Can I get your number?"
The guy riding pillion leaned in way too close, making Tee jump and wobble his handlebars. A hand reached out from the other side and actually grabbed the end of his bike.
"What the hell, man? I'm a guy! Why are you following me?"
Tee swatted at the hands grabbing his motorcycle like annoying octopus tentacles, trying to accelerate, but it wasn't that easy to break away.
"So what? Plenty of guys date guys nowadays."
"Well I don't like guys! Move away a bit! I can't ride properly—I've got a bunch of stuff. I'll fall over!"
"Just give us your number first. We'll even escort you home."
"No thanks! I live right here. Just back off and stop squeezing me like this!"
"Then pull over and give us your number, and we'll leave you alone."
"Your legs are prettier than most girls you know? I like pretty legs. And your face is pretty too. Skin's nice. Makes me wanna see if a guy's cheek smells as sweet as it looks…"
The pillion rider leaned forward again, practically trying to plant a kiss on Tee's cheek.
"What the hell is wrong with you?! I said leave me alone!"
Tee's voice cracked, loud and panicked, not sure whether to protect his bike, his cheek, or his sanity first.
Screeeech—!
One of the bikes suddenly cut in front of Tee's scooter, forcing him to slam on the brakes so hard his body lurched forward.
"What the hell are you doing?! Back off! Do you even know who my dad is?! Don't mess with me!"
"I don't care who your dad is," the guy sneered. "I only know you're cute as hell. If you won't give us your number, at least let us kiss those cheeks—just one each, alright?"
The way he said it—dead serious about kissing him—sent panic straight through Tee's spine. His hands shook as he shoved at the guy's chest.
"Hey! Cut it out! Don't you dare come closer! This is harassment—I can sue you for this!"
Beeeep!
CRASH!
A massive motorbike came out of nowhere and slammed into the one behind Tee, sending it flying off the road.
The four guys stumbled and yelled, tugging and pushing each other on the side of the street while Tee just stared, wide-eyed, completely stunned.
The owner of the big bike stormed over, grabbed the guy who'd just tried to lean into the pale kid, and swung a punch straight into his ear hard enough that the flirt collapsed instantly, knocked out cold before he even hit the ground.
"Hey!! Who the hell are you?! Why'd you hit my friend?!"
The other two drunken guys spun around, ready to throw down with the tall stranger who had slammed into them out of nowhere and knocked their buddy unconscious without a word. But every punch they tried to throw was dodged—left, right—and answered with a sharp knee and quick elbows before they were flipped and tossed into the dirt beside their fallen bikes.
"...Uncle See…"
The small boy finally spoke after the chaos died down. Even with the helmet on, he'd recognize that man anywhere.
"I told you to WAIT!!"
The man's shout was so loud Tee shrank his neck like a scolded turtle.
Scary… Uncle See was terrifying when he was angry.
A thick finger pointed sharply at the bike—an order. No questions. So the small boy climbed on, and both bikes roared off toward the boxing camp.
Vroooom—
Screeeech—
Thud!!
The tall man got off his bike without a word and walked straight past the stubborn kid. He tore his helmet off and slammed it down so hard Tei flinched, too afraid to even look up.
"You guys are back already~?"
A drunken voice from the TV mumbled, clueless that a bomb was ticking nearby.
See dropped into a seat and downed a heavy swig of liquor to cool the rage burning from earlier.
"Uh… Uncle… h-here's your card."
The boy held out the black card with trembling fingers, keeping a whole meter of distance like the older man might explode again. Seer only cast a sidelong glance, didn't say a word, just stared—hard—at the stubborn kid.
"…Give it to me when I'm sober. I might lose it."
Teie quickly tucked the card back into his pocket, sweating bullets as the man still didn't say anything else. He shifted nervously, planning to slip away into his house.
"You're sleeping here."
"Y-yes! O-okay! S-sure, absolutely!"