If ruining Paing Say Yan financially didn't work, then Ngwe Nay Kha would aim for something even sharper. His reputation.
Ngwe knew exactly who Paing was beneath the polished suits and charming smiles: a playboy, a womanizer, someone who couldn't go a week without being seen with a different girl. He'd dug up the photos—three of them.
One in a café with a girl laughing too close.
One at a club, bodies tangled in a dance.
And one at a private party, where Paing had his arm around a girl, leaning in, cheek against hers.
Finding those photos wasn't easy. That's how careful Paing had always been.
But Ngwe found them.
And now, seated across from a young reporter in a quiet teashop downtown, he slid the USB across the table.
"Write what you want. Just tell the truth," Ngwe said, calm but sharp. "This is the man everyone praises—the 'rising young businessman'? Let them see what he's really like."
He stood, slipping his hands into his pockets. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Let's see how you survive this, Paing Say Yan."
He stepped out onto the street, quietly satisfied—until a voice called out.
"Hey! Are you Ngwe Nay Kha, my dude?"
Startled, Ngwe turned—and before he could react, strong arms wrapped around him.
"Myo Thant?" Ngwe laughed in disbelief. "What the hell! I thought you were in Mogok!"
(Mogok is world-renowned for its rubies and sapphires, especially the rare and prized "pigeon blood" rubies. Many of Myanmar's most valuable gems come from the mines in this region.)
"I was. I just came back to Yangon for a business meeting. Man, it's been so long. I missed you, bro!"
They embraced tightly, both smiling with genuine warmth.
"I heard you're selling jewelry now?"
"Yeah, yeah—But forget that. When did you come back to Myanmar? You just disappeared on us suddenly. I am sad ...man."
Ngwe gave a sheepish smile. "Two months ago. Sorry I didn't reach out… I've been busy and—honestly, I haven't met any old friends yet."
"You should've called. Myo Kaung's in Bangkok now, studying—whenever he calls me, always asking about you."
"Tell him I miss him too, next time when he calls you. I'll message him soon."
Myo Thant raised an eyebrow. "Two months is still too long Bro. We're gonna fight about that later. But for now—come on, let's talk properly. We're standing in the middle of the street."
They slipped into a nearby café, ordering drinks as old comfort returned between them.
"So," Myo Thant said after a sip of coffee. "You met with Paing Say Yan yet?"
"Yeah… actually, I'm working at his company now," Ngwe replied, trying to sound casual.
Myo Thant blinked. "Seriously? I had no idea. He didn't mention that."
"I thought you two were close."
"Not anymore," Myo Thant admitted. "But to be honest… you and he were always closer than us. After you left for the UK, everything changed."
Ngwe's brows furrowed.
"Paing became... different," Myo Thant continued. "Colder. Distant. He started partying nonstop, hanging out with bad people. Drugs, fights, police trouble—you name it. It got bad."
"Wait... drugs?"
"For about five months. He was spiraling, Ngwe. Wouldn't listen to anyone. He ended up in the hospital, almost arrested more than once. His parents had to step in—took full control of his life just to save him."
Ngwe sat in stunned silence.
"He only started getting better after two years. But even now... he's not quite the same."
Ngwe stared at the table, suddenly unable to meet his friend's eyes. All this time, he thought he was the only one who'd suffered. The only one who had felt abandoned, betrayed. But he had never once thought about what Paing had been going through during four years. It's not that he didn't care about him. It's just… what if Paing Say Yan had been happier without him after he left? That fear alone kept him from ever trying to find out what really happened during those four years.
And now he had just handed those photos to a reporter.
"Ngwe?" Myo Thant said gently. "I don't know what happened between you two… I just hope you take care of him. I know he's done things. But I also know how much he cared about you."
Myo Kaung and Myo Thant—the twins—Paing Say Yan, and I had all been close during our school days. But after we finished high school, we went our separate ways, each attending different universities. I enrolled in Engineering University, Paing Say Yan went to a private business school, and the twins chose yet another university. Because of that, none of them really knew what had happened between Paing Say Yan and me during those university years.
"I'm trying," Ngwe said softly.
"I really hope you both can patch things up. You were... unbreakable back then."
Ngwe smiled faintly and whispered, "I don't think that's possible anymore."
They didn't speak much after that. Just small talk. Old memories.
After exchanging numbers, Ngwe Nay Kha walked out and headed back to the company. But his mind was stuck on Myo Thant's words.
Addicted. Lost. Fighting. Alone.
He had never imagined Paing Say Yan could fall so hard.
And yet…
Was it my leaving that broke him?
He pushed the thought away. But the guilt wouldn't leave.
As Ngwe Nay Kha stepped into the elevator, his reflection flickered on the mirrored doors—eyes unreadable, mind loud.
But then—he clenched his jaw.
No.
He reminded himself, slowly, firmly:
"It's not like I did that to him.
I didn't put the drugs in his hand.
I didn't drag him to those parties.
I didn't kiss my best friend's girlfriend."
Paing Say Yan was the one who had ruined everything. He was the one who had stood in that apartment with her, half-naked, and smirked like betrayal was a game.
So no.
No guilt. No pity.
If Paing had gone to hell after that night, it wasn't because Ngwe Nay Kha had left. It was because Paing chose to destroy himself.
I didn't destroy him, Ngwe told himself. He destroyed me first.
Everything he suffered in those four years abroad—the anger, the silence, the loneliness—wasn't something he chose.
It was forced on him.
By Paing.
So if revenge was cruel, if it hurt—then let it hurt.
He deserved it.
He deserved every last bit of it.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, Paing Say Yan was standing right in front—his eyes on his phone. He looked like he'd been waiting for me… and he looked mad.
He stood there in a black suit; the tie carelessly loosened like he'd just walked out of a long meeting—or a heartbreak. His hair was messy in that effortless way only he could pull off. Every inch of him screamed chaos, but somehow, it only made him look more dangerously handsome.
Fuckkkk
The moment our eyes met, he spoke sharply.
"Ngwe, where have you been? Do you know how worried I was? I call you many times. Why don't you answer the phone?"
I didn't answer. I just walked past him, heading straight to my office room.
"Ngwe, I'm talking to you. It's already 2 PM. Lunch break ended at 1. Where were you?"
He grabbed my wrist.
I slapped his hand away.
"Why do I need to tell you everything? I don't owe you an explanation."
I started walking faster. But he caught up, not letting it go.
"I have every right to ask—as your boss. This is a workplace, not somewhere you can come and go as you please. If you want to leave, you need to inform me. I need to know."
I turned and glared at him.
"So that's why you hired me? To keep me close and control me like the old day as u want? You couldn't use title of 'friend' anymore, so now it's 'boss and employee'—is that it? new title Huh?"
He hesitated. "No, it's not like that—"
"Yes, boss. I'll do whatever I want, just like today. And if you don't like it, fire me. I'll be glad to leave."
I gave a mocking bow.
"Ngwe, you—"
He stopped, took a breath, trying to calm himself.
"I'm sorry… if I crossed the line again. I'm just relieved you're back. That's all."
He turned and walked away quietly.
He looked hurt.
But I didn't care. Or at least—I told myself I didn't.
So hey, heart... stop hurting me. I told you I don't care.
I hit my chest softly.