Part - 9
At the airport,
Nadech waved to his parents to get their attention. “Here”. They walked towards him.
Nadech: Swadee Krup Mom, Dad.
His mum just smiled, hugged him and wished him for his birthday while his dad just patted his shoulder and wished him. Nadech nodded and thanked him. He took his mother's bag and his dad’s trolley and walked with his mum, while his dad just strutted ahead of them.
Nadech: (whispering) What’s up with dad? He looks a bit grumpy.
Mae Keaw: (whispering back) Oh the air hostess accidently spilled some water on his pants and he was screaming at them and giving them the eye.
Nadech: (laughing, whispering) Oh not the eye.
Mae Keaw: Oh yeah.
They both were giggling behind his back. Suddenly he turns back and both of them just straighten themselves.
Nadech: (diverting them) I have parked my car over there, let’s go.
Nadech was not close to his dad. He respected him a lot, but he couldn't just go up and talk to him about anything. Some where he was scarred of him. Mae Keaw was not only his mum but also like his best friend. He could talk to her about anything and everything.
Nadech’s dad Yoshio was away from home most of the time since he was in the military. Mae Keaw and Nadech were on their own pretty much all the time so they had a very strong bond. Mae Keaw had explained to Nadech that his dad his worked very hard to provide for his family so he has to be out of town most of the time. They were not poo,r they a little property and Nadech’s dad Yoshio being an army officer earned well.
Nadech knew that his dad loved them very much but every time he made an attempt to make a bond, his dad would act the opposite. Like one time when he was 6 years old, his dad had arrived home for a few days. When Nadech saw him, he ran up to him...
Nadech: “dad your home, your home”.
Nadech ran to him and was about hold his left leg to ask him to lift him up. Nadech didn’t know that his dad had sprained his ankle so in reflex his dad shoved him aside. He was a military man so he was very strong, he dint realized that he might have just pushed him a little too hard. Nadech fell to the floor and started crying. Yoshio wanted to pick him up but he just couldn't bend. Mae Keaw came running, lifted him and took him to her room.
Mae Keaw: (wiping his tears) Don’t cry my dear baby. You’re my good boy right, please don’t cry.
Nadech stopped crying but still sobbed a bit.
Mae Keaw: Come one, who’s my strong boy. Who is it?
Nadech: (sobbing) me.
Mae Keaw: Come on I can’t hear you?
Nadech: meeeeeeeeee.
Mae Keaw: (wiping his tears) Very good. You are strong just like your dad.
Nadech: Mom, does dad hate me?
Yoshio had witnessed this. He had slowly walked to the room in spite of having a sore leg. He was worried about Nadech. He listened to their conversation. Oh! every dad’s worst nightmare.
Mae Keaw: No baby he loves you a lot.
Nadech: Then why is he not like you. (Touching her face) You’re so sweet, you feed me, you read me stories, you take me to the market, and you always play with me.
Mae Keaw: Your dad has to work very hard so that we can be happy.
Nadech: How is that?
Mae Keaw: If he doesn't work, we won’t have any money and if we don't have any money then my Nadech can’t buy any toys.
Nadech: (wondering) So dad works because he wants to buy me toys.
Mae Keaw: (smiling at his cute face and his innocence) Yes.
Nadech: (raising his arms) Then he is the best dad in the world.
Mae Keaw tickled him and they both were playfully laughing. Yoshio was also very happy, not that he would show any reaction on his face. He entered the room.
Nadech stared at his dad batting his cute eyes at him. Yoshio had brought Nadech’s favourite chocolate.
Yoshio: (strictly, as though his 6 year old kid would catch him smiling) This is for you.
Nadech: (excited) For me?
Mae Keaw lifted him and took him to his dad. Nadech took the chocolate.
Mae Keaw: (to Nadech) See I told you so.
Nadech: (happily) Mom you were right.
Mae Keaw: Come on give daddy a kiss.
She leaned him towards Yoshio. Nadech put his baby hands on his face and kissed his cheek.
His dad was so overwhelmed.
Nadech: Thank you dad.
Mae Keaw: Nadech go to your room and have your chocolate. I will give daddy lunch and come and make you study.
Nadech: (sprinting) Ok mom.
Nadech happily sprinted to his room.
There were many incidents like this. Nadech was always a very good student, but once when his dad went with him to collect his report card and saw that he got average grades, he yelled at him in front of all his friends. Nadech was too scared to even say anything. He dint even know that his son had been sick during exams, until later when Mae Keaw informed him. She dint wanted to worry him especially when he was away from home so she thought she might tell him went he came home.
As Nadech got older the distance between him and his father grew larger. His dad would miss most of the important days like birthdays, his first football match, and graduation, etc. Nadech had gotten adjusted to the life where only he and his mum stayed together. He never complained about his father’s absence but somewhere in his heart all of that was all getting collected.
Yoshio wanted to come for Nadech’s graduation desperately, but something very important came up in the last minute and was forced to stay for another day. Yoshio saw the video of his son getting graduated which Mae Keaw had sent him. He was all grown up and handsome. Yoshio decided that he needs to spend time with his family and decided to quit. So he took voluntary retirement. completed all the paper works in 2 weeks and headed home. Nadech was always unaware as to why his dad had quit and he never asked.
Maybe it was too little too late. It was difficult for Yoshio to adjust to being at home all the time not doing much. Nadech on the other hand was busy in planning his future. He wanted to build a small start-up company so he was busy sketching a lot a plans and selling it to others companies for the next 6 months. When he had enough capital, he started his own company called “Kugimiya constructions”. He built the company from ground up. His father was very proud of him but however wasn’t able to express it much as usual.
Mae Keaw was always the one to clean up the mess or communicate between them. She knew her husband well. He might not be the one to mingle or socialize, but she knew he loved her and Nadech more than anything in this world. Yoshio was also thankful that he has such a good wife and who was an amazing mother.
Yoshio was Japanese and Mae Keaw was Thai. How did they marry each other? Well that’s another story to tell, so let’s skip it. (Think of it as “Koo Kum” reloaded or whatever hehe).
Nadech was their only child and was born almost 6 years after their marriage. 6 years in their time was like a huge gap, so Mae Keaw has prayed a lot for a baby and finally Nadech had arrived. So he was dearest to both his mum and dad.
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Ok i know this part was a bit of drag but i couldn't skip it :secret: . It was a requirement for tomorrow's part. But i promise, I will not disappoint you guys tomorrow. The most important part will be coming up tomorrow so please tune in. Thank you so much. Have a good night. :scooter: