Music To My Ears | 2gether Short Stories

Say Something - Chapter 05

"Tine, would you have dinner with me this Sunday?" asked Wat.

Sunday would be the last day of their contract. Tine didn't know if he felt relieved or devastated.

"Of course, Wat. Any instructions?"

"Just be yourself, that's enough for me."

*

On Sunday evening, Tine got ready to leave for his last assignment.

He checked himself in the bathroom mirror one last time.

"P'Waaaaaat" he heard Nova scream excitedly and his heart twinged. He had already tried to explain to the children that P'Wat may not be coming around anymore.

Tine felt his heart explode, like it did every time he saw how Wat was around his siblings.

Wat saw Tine looking at him from the doorway.

"You look nice" he smiled.

"You don't. Never do"

"Don't be mean, Teepakorn. Not everyone is blessed with your good looks"

"But look on the bright side - where you lack in looks, you also lack in brains"

"Which reminds me, it's time to feed the begonias. I think they need the right nourishment"

"I'm not going to your kill den. Period."

"Come on, it'll be fun. Where's your sense of adventure?"

"Right next to my sense of self-preservation"

Wat chuckled and shook his head. He would miss these absurd conversations.

"I'm going to give the children something. Please don't stop me or create a fuss, okay?"

"It depends. It already seems like something I would object to."

Wat put up a hand. "Please, Tine."

Wat gathered the younger children. He slipped a thin gold chain with a different coloured gem stone around each of their necks, the pendant beautifully carved to match their zodiac year of birth.

He kissed each of them lightly on the forehead and hugged them tight.

Wat looked at Echo. "In my family, it's traditional to present a watch at the age of eighteen. I know you will turn eighteen only next year, but I want you to have this right now" said Wat, holding out a box to Echo.

Echo's eyes went wide. " I can't accept this, P'. This is too much" he said, not daring to touch the Rolex Submariner in it. It was similar to the one that Wat wore on his wrist, but a different color.

Wat took it out of the box and clasped it on Echo's hand. "For me, please" he said and hugged Echo tightly.

"Take care of your brother for me" he whispered out of Tine's earshot.

Echo nodded miserably. "Are you going somewhere, P'?" he asked in a low voice.

Wat took a deep breath and looked at Tine.

"I'm moving back to Geneva. My flight leaves in the morning tomorrow" he said.

The girls cried. The toddlers didn't know why the older ones were so weepy, but they took their cue from them and bawled.

Tine's heart shattered into a million pieces. He felt numb, incapable of any thought. A constant buzzing filled his head.

"Tine... Tine" said Wat, bringing him back.

"Yeah?" he croaked.

"Shall we?" asked Wat.

Tine swallowed and nodded, not trusting himself to speak.