-Chapter Two-
From store to store, her high heels clattered every time her foot touches the floor of the mall. Usually most women who had shopped that long would be too sore to walk, but she continued on, catching every men’s eyes with her long slender legs revealing from her one piece mini dress. However, she paid no attention to such low human; her standard was high and her nose even higher.
“Khun Prae, madam said that you shouldn’t charge your credit card anymore, they’re already in debt.” her servant whispered out, hoping to stop her.
“Are you saying that you expect me to wear the same clothes twice?!” she screamed, causing her servant to clench, and surprising most of the men that were eyeing her, “Just shut up and carry my bags, I didn’t bring you here so that you can lecture me!”
The servant gulped, watching Prae walk off toward a jewelry store now, she was obviously pissed off.
As she was deciding which one-of-a-kind necklace she should buy, her phone came on.
Glancing at the incoming caller id, she gave out a grunt, “What is it mom?” she answered.
“Prae, Madam Hathairat just called me,” her mother said, but before she could even continue, Prae gave out a sigh.
“Tell her that I’m sick or something, I do not feel like seeing her!” she called out, “What is with that old woman, I dated her son once, that doesn’t mean that I became her freaken daughter-in-law! I‘ve been too nice to her, her stupid son doesn’t even care to call me! It’s a waste of my effort!”
“Prae! Listen to me, Khun Perawit is back in Thailand!” her mother quickly said before her daughter could hang up.
Prae suddenly stood up straight, “Hah? What did you say mom? Pe’s back?” she called out surprised now.
“Yes, he’s on his way home right now from the airport, Madam Hathairat wanted you to be there to welcome him back, go there now Prae!”
“I already know that mother! I don’t need you to tell me!” she called out, hanging up and suddenly, she felt hands on her waist, hugging her, “Who the hell?!” A man forced a kiss on her cheek, making her disgusted, “Who the hell do you think you ar-?!”
“Aww, it’s just me or have you already forgotten about our night together?” the man said, laughing.
Prae wasn’t sure who he was, she had many one night stands with many men, and so to specifically recall this man that was hugging her was impossible.
“So what are you looking at? If you like I’ll buy you it, but afterward, you must come with me to dinner,” he said, finally letting her go.
“Really?” she smiled, but she paused, remembering Pe, “it’s okay, I have somewhere to go,” she suddenly said, changing her whole excited attitude as she pushed him aside. She gave out a smirk; she had bigger fish to catch.
☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆
Pe glanced out the window car, taking notice of the life of Bangkok. He had only been gone for six years, but many things had changed. He wondered if the house was any different, he knew his sister had fully grown up, but he wondered how tall she was now, he wondered about all the changed that he missed while he was enjoying his time abroad.
He was aware that his mother and grandma weren’t getting along, not since his father passed away, but it’s only right that his mother was worried about the inheritance. He loves his grandma, he really do, but he just doesn’t understand what she was thinking, inviting a stranger into her home and treating him like a grandchild, or so this was what he heard from his mother, but he was sure that his mother was right and that this Kong was after his grandmother’s money.
“Khun Perawit, we are here,” the servant said as he opened the door for Pe.
Pe smiled, stepping out to see his mom and sister, along with the rest of the servants welcoming him.
“Older brother!” Yaa called out, as she ran up to hug him.
“Yaa! You’re a young lady now, you can’t just hug him like when you were a child!” their mother scolded. The two laughed as Pe hugged his mother.
“I missed you mother,”
“Me too,”
“Why did you come home all of a sudden?” Yaa asked as they were making their way toward the house.
“What else? Your brother missed us,” her mother answered, “Now stop pestering your brother and let him rest.”
Yaa was a bit confused, but gave out a nod, “I’ll help bring his stuff to his room then!” she called out, grabbing a baggage from the servant as she followed Pe up the stairs.
“Yaa, you don’t have to, if you wanna talk, just talk,” Pe laughed as he grabbed the bag from her and handed her his blazer jacket instead, “What do you want?”
She furrowed, “Am I that obvious?” but Pe answered her with a knowing smirk, making her smile innocently, “I was wondering…if you can talk to mother about canceling my engagement?”
“What?” Pe suddenly paused. He looked back to see if anyone was there, he didn’t want his mother to hear about this, but seeing that no one was there, he continued, “Why are you saying this now? I thought you were okay with it?”
“Well…I don’t even know who he is…”
“Khun Chai is a good man, you’ll like him,”
“I was okay with it before, but now…”
“Now?”
“I…I already like somebody else…” Yaa mumbled.
Pe stared at his sister, half surprised and half disappointed. Chai was a good friend of his from abroad and when he had saw Yaa’s picture, he had made his parents go talk to Pe’s mother about setting them up. Of course because Chai was also from a hi-so family, Madam Hathairat had no objection. Chai didn’t want to force Yaa, but if she wasn’t seeing anyone, he hoped that Yaa was willing to date him in consideration of marriage.
“Who is it? Does mother know who he is? Does she accept?” Pe asked.
Yaa frowned, “That’s the problem…mother will never accept it…”
Pe raised an eyebrow, a bit confused. Where could she have met the man? She just graduated from an all-girl high school and with their mother knowing everything that she was doing, how did she have time to meet and fall in love with a man?
“Who is it?…”
Yaa bit her bottom lip, hesitating to answer, but seeing that her brother looked like he wasn’t going to help unless he knew who it was, she gulped, “Grandma’s caregiver, his name is Kongbordin…” she said.
“What?”
“Grandma just hired him, I know I just met him, but I think he’s my soul mate!” she said, smiling. But her saying this just made him angrier. She stared at her frozen brother and pouted, “Are you going to help me?”
Pe blinked, looking at her and suddenly he walked back toward the stairs.
“Eh? Older brother? Older brother, where are you going?!” Yaa called out as she watched him walk down the stairs and out the door. Their mother heard the commotion and quickly walked out of the living room, staring out as Pe had the driver hand over the key and he drove off.
“Yaa, where is your brother going?” she asked as she stared up the staircase toward her daughter, who looked as confused as she was, “He does know that Khun Prae is coming to have dinner with us, right?”
Yaa shook her head, “I forgot to tell him.” she said, causing her mother to dramatically have a headache, making a maid run over.
“Mother, w-wait, I‘ll call him!” Yaa said, taking out her phone and calling her brother, but suddenly she felt vibration, making her look down to the blazer jacket that she was holding, “Mom, Pe forgot his phone,” she said pouting sadly now as she brought out Pe’s phone that was in his jacket to show her mother.
And once more Madam Hathairat dramatically felt dizzy.
☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆
Grandma was having her afternoon nap and so this left Kong to work on the garden, seeing that no one had touched it for years. It wasn’t part of the job requirement, but he felt bad having such a lovely house be surrounded by an untended garden.
The house that madam lived at wasn’t a very small place, like Kong had thought when he first came, it was more like a mansion. It had a fountain located right in front of the house in order for cars to drive up and go around the fountain to return. The backyard was like its own little forest because of the neglected gardening. It even had a pool that hasn’t been used or cleaned. Kong had decided that he’ll take care of it, because he had free time during the afternoon, he’ll use that time wisely and do the man work that the maids weren’t able to do.
As he was pulling weed out from the patches of grass in front of the house, a car suddenly started honking at the front gate. Kong curiously looked over as Noy ran out of the house to open the gate and then the car drove up to the house. Kong watched as the door of the car open and a man stepped out. Kong raised an eyebrow, wondering why grandma had such a young guest, to be exact, a young, handsome, fierce-looking guest. He had on a white collar dress shirt that was tucked into his dress pants and looked like he just got off work; since his collar was opened up to his chest and his sleeves were rolled up.
Noy ran up to him and wai-ed, “Khun Perawit! When did you get back? Madam will be happy to see you!” she called out.
Pe started walking up the stairs toward the entrance doors, “Where’s grandma, is she home?”
“Yes she is!” Noy said cheerfully but as she turned back toward Kong, she frowned, “Kong! Did you not hear Khun Perawit!? He wants to see madam, go wake her!” she ordered, making Kong stand up.
At the name, Pe also turned and at that moment, their eyes connected.
The man wasn't just handsome, his eyes were a light shade of brown, very intense-looking but at the same time beautiful, his jaw line stuck out, curving his face perfectly. His slightly tanned skin blended and balanced his sharp look, having an elegant aura. His only flaw was that he wasn’t as tall or else Kong would have assumed that he was a model.
Kong quickly snapped out of the haze and wai-ed to Pe before running past him and Noy to go wake up the madam. Maybe it was just the sun playing with his eyes, but he could had sworn that this Khun Perawit was glaring at him the whole time, even without looking back, Kong could feel Pe‘s glare on the back of his head.
☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆
“Grandma, how have you been?” Pe wai-ed to his grandmother, “I hope you’ve been well,” he smiled.
She pouted, “You dare smile at me when you haven’t contact me for weeks?” she snorted out.
Pe laughed, “Oh ho, grandma, it’s not like that, I’ve been busy, so it’s not like I discriminated you only, I didn’t contact anyone for weeks,” he explained.
“Really?”
“Krap, you don’t believe your only grandson?” Pe sulked, “I even came all the way here just to have dinner with you and I just got back this afternoon.”
Grandma stared cautiously at her grandson, but seeing him trying to please her, she slowly smiled, “Come here,” she said with open arms and Pe hugged her back, “I missed you so much!”
“Me too grandma,”
At the sight Kong couldn’t help but smile. He had thought that grandma was having conflict with her family, but to see how well she and her grandson got along, it made him happy and relief that that wasn’t the case.
“Ah, I forgot to introduce you,” Grandma said, remembering, “Kong, this is my grandson, Perawit, and Pe, this is Kong, my caregiver.”
Kong gave out a nod and wai-ed to Pe.
“Nice to finally meet you Khun Kong, I’ve heard a lot about you,” he suddenly said, catching Kong off guard.
“Y-you have?” Kong asked.
Pe smirked, “Don’t worry, it’s nothing bad,”
And with that said, Kong gave out a confused nod, unsure of what it meant. The way Pe was talking to his grandma, the way Pe smiled, and laughed, it made Kong more relaxed. Maybe his eyes were playing tricks on him before; since there was no way this kind man could give out such a cold look.
“Noy, help me at the kitchen, I want to make Pe his favorite dish,” grandma suddenly called out as she stood up, “Pe please relax and wait for dinner okay?”
Pe nodded, watching Noy help his grandma into the kitchen.
Kong quickly got to his feet, “Grandma, I’ll help to-,” but before he could finish, he was interrupted.
“What do you want?” Pe suddenly asked, making Kong paused, confused.
Kong turned around, only to be surprised- he was face-to-face with Pe, their faces were only an inch away from one another.
“K-Khun Pe?” Kong stuttered out, puzzled on why the other was so close. He was about to back away but Pe grabbed his arm, not letting him budge.
“What do you think you’re going to get out of this?” Pe repeated.
Kong could only be perplexed; he really didn’t understand what Pe meant. The older man’s entire facial expression changed along with his kind atmosphere, it was hard to believe that it was the same man from before. Kong shook his head timidly.
Pe smirked evilly, “I thought you’ll be more handsomer, more manly-looking, but all you have is that baby-face,” Pe snorted, “So how did you seduced my sister and make my grandma love you?”
“W-what?”
“Don’t try to act innocent, you think you can fool anyone, but you can’t fool me, I know what’s going through your head. You’re after money aren’t you?”
Kong furrowed, “Khun Pe, you’re mistake-”
“You’re nothing but a gold digger, right?” Pe suddenly said, Kong could feel Pe tightening the grip on his arm, making it painful.
“K-Khun Pe, you’re wrong, please let go, it hurt…” Kong said, bringing up a hand to try and pull Pe’s hand away, but this attempt only made the older man hold tighter.
“Tsk, you can’t even take this much? And you call yourself a man?” Pe muttered, “Are you sure you’re not a gay too?”
Kong swallowed, when he had heard this, he couldn’t help but felt angered, but this person was the madam’s grandson, he couldn’t just punch the guy or else he could get fired before he even gets pay! But the force Pe was putting on his arm was hurting him. Kong bit his bottom lip, deciding to ignore the older man’s remark, “P-please let go of me Khun Pe,” he whispered, holding it in.
Pe finally let go and at the release, Kong quickly backed up, holding the pain with his other hand.
“It’s not like I want to touch a trashy gold digger…” Pe said with a disgusted look.
Kong really didn’t know how to reply to any of Pe’s statements, he just couldn’t believe that there were such a person like this in the world, and if there were, he never thought that he’ll ever meet one. All Kong could do was stare confusedly at the other.
Seeing the look, Pe’s eyes changed into a deadly glare, “Don’t think you can fool me, I’ll definitely catch you and reveal your evil plot to the world,” he whispered.
There was no use talking to this guy, even if Kong could find the right words to say, he knew that whatever he’ll say, Pe wouldn’t believe, since he already set his mind to hating Kong. He gulped and just ran out.
“I’ll definitely take off that fake mask,” Pe angrily whispered, sitting on the armrest of the couch in the dimmed room.
☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆
“What did you say?!” Prae screamed, making the servant flinch in fear.
“I-I’m so sorry Khun Prae, but the young master is not home,” she repeated. The servant could have easily brought Prae to Madam Hathairat to take care of, but the first thing Prae asked when she arrived was for Pe.
“Prae, you’re here!” a voice called out, saving the servant from anymore high screeching screams.
Madam Hathairat smiled brightly as she walked down the steps toward Prae and the servant. At this, the servant took the opportunity to escape. Bowing at the two, she left quickly.
Prae gave out a half-heartedly smile and wai-ed, “Sawaddee ka auntie, mother told me that you invited me for dinner to celebrate Khun Perawit’s return…so why was that servant saying that he‘s not home?” she asked.
“I’m so sorry Prae, my son just left without telling me, so I wasn’t able to tell him that you were having dinner with us, if he knew, he wouldn’t had dare left,” Madam Hathairat apologized.
“So he’s really not home?”
“I’m sorry dear, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have dinner with Yaa and I, right?” she said, hoping to change the mood.
Prae gave out an awkward smile, rolling her eyes so that the madam couldn’t see. Even though Pe wasn’t there, now that he’s back, she can score some points by satisfying this old hag again, “Kaa auntie, I will love to join you and Yaa,” she said, giving out a fake smile.
“My foolish son doesn’t know what he is missing, losing the chance to dine with our beautiful Prae,” Madam Hathairat complimented, pleasing the girl. Though she would had been much more satisfied if Pe was actually there to hear this.
☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆
He tried to ignore the intense stare, but he could sense it. He felt like it was burning through his skin.
“Kong? What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” Grandma suddenly asked, catching Kong’s attention.
Kong shook his head and forced a smile on, “It’s nothing grandma,” he said, as he scooped a small portion of rice to feed the madam. He glanced at the owner of the intense glare and quickly turned his attention back to grandma.
Pe smirked, “Grandma, I bet he’s just feeling guilty, that‘s all.” he said, which made Kong looked back at him.
“Guilty? Guilty of what, Pe?…Kong? What is Pe saying?” Grandma asked.
Kong shook his head, “I don‘t know what Khun Pe is talking about, grandma. I have nothing to feel guilty about…maybe he‘s a bit tired from his flight that he can’t seem to understand the situation,” Kong suggested, obviously hinting Pe to leave him alone.
“Well…that’s true. Pe, why don’t you stay here tonight and return home tomorrow morning? I don’t want you getting to any accident driving home in your tired state.” Grandma ordered.
Pe smiled at his grandmother, but again, his eyes went back to Kong, “Thank you grandma, I was hoping to stay the night, I’m afraid someone might decide to come and steal your things,”
Kong gave out a quiet huff, swallowing his anger.
“What are you talking about, my foolish grandson? I’ve been alone all these years while you’re abroad and I haven’t been robbed once, you’ve been abroad for too long,”
Kong smiled, “Grandma, no one will come and steal from you, it’s only his wild imagination, I’m sure…”
Grandma laughed, “Kong is right, Pe, your imagination is too wild. You must be tired. Noy, go prepare Pe’s room so that he can rest right away,” she ordered, “Kong, please clean this up and you can return home for the day, dear.”
He nodded and smiled happily at grandma for ending the frustrating conversation as he started cleaning up. Ignoring the look that Pe was giving, since he obviously still has more remarks to say.
☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆
Grandma occupied Pe’s time and so Kong was able to clean the dishes in peace without being bothered. After finishing, he grabbed his bag and walked to the living room to bid grandma good bye. He also wai-ed Pe too, since he was happy to see that Grandma wasn’t finish talking to Pe.
As Kong walked toward the gate, he gave out a sigh- hoping that he wouldn’t see Pe tomorrow, since he’s pretty sure that the older man should have a life and wouldn’t spend it torturing him. But he couldn’t help frowning at the thought of Pe. Just who was this guy? When he’s with his grandmother, he was full of smile and kindness, but with Kong, he was so scary. Kong remembered the madam saying that her daughter-in-law is only interested in her inheritance and having Kong there make her feel threaten…so was it true about her grandson too? Was Pe only there because he’s afraid that he won’t get any inheritance?
Kong stopped and shook his head; he didn’t want to think like this. If it was true, then grandma would be too pitiful. “He hates me because he’s doesn’t trust me…it’s not because he’s afraid of not getting the madam’s inheritance…” Kong whispered to himself. Grandma was too good of a person not to be loved by her family!
“What are you mumbling about? Thinking of ways to steal my grandma’s belonging?” the voice suddenly said from behind Kong, making him turn to see Pe.
“K-khun Pe? W-why are you out here? I thought you were still talking to the madam?”
“Why don’t you call her grandma? You shamelessly been doing that,” Pe said, making Kong more uncomfortable.
Kong wai-ed in apology, “I’m sorry if you do not agree with me calling her that, because it was the madam’s idea, I couldn’t refuse it.” he said.
“Tsk, and what did you say to please my grandma so much that she’d even allowed it?” Pe asked.
Kong gave out a sigh, there really was no use talking to this guy. It seems he only wanted to start a fight. Kong gave up and turned around, continuing on his way.
“H-hey! Wait! I’m not done talking to you!” Pe called out, running to the other as he grabbed Kong by the shoulder to turn him, “Who do you think you are, turning your back on someone when they’re talking to you?”
“If its nonsense, I see no reason why I should continue listening,” Kong said, about to turn, but Pe pulled him back, not letting him go.
“How much do you want? I’ll give you 1 million to quit!”
Kong suddenly got quiet and stopped struggling, making Pe smirk.
“So I see it’s enough then, huh?”
Kong took the opportunity to pull away from Pe’s hold as he continued toward the gate, surprising Pe. The older man quickly ran in front and stopped Kong from leaving.
“Why are you ignoring me? I just offered you 1 million!” he yelled out angered.
Kong stared at him and sighed, “Because it’s exactly like I said, nonsense!” he said, trying to go around the other.
“What the hell is wrong with you? Are you really such a low gold-digger that you’re aiming for more than you can handle?!”
Kong stopped again and looked up at Pe, this was getting to be too much, even if he is the madam’s grandson, it wasn’t him that he was working for.
“I am not a gold-digger nor do I want your money! I will not accept anything that I didn’t earn myself, I will not take anything that I didn’t deserve!” he called out, “Now please move aside,” and without thinking, he pushed Pe away so that he could get out.
Pe was actually taken aback by this as he watched Kong leave. Did such a lowly creature just talked back to him and pushed him aside?! Pe finally got his thought together and stood up straight, “You scumbag, I’ll teach you to-” but as he was about to run after Kong again, the other already got in a taxi and left. Making Pe angrily kick the gate, “I’ll teach him to talk back to me…” he mumbled.
Kong noticed Pe coming out of the gate and was happy that he had caught a taxi before Pe had caught him. He gave out a sigh and rested his head on the window, what have he gotten himself into? Did he really made himself an enemy now? He closed his eyes and continued hoping that Pe would leave him alone the next day.
To be continued…
