Smoke Signals • EarthMix AU

CHAPTER 5: Simmer

Off languidly bites into an apple and observes three muscular men sitting on their sofa. He wonders who's here for his boy & imagines, to the best of his fatherly ability, the best way to intimidate him.

"You're all here to help my boy move?" He inquires and squints his eyes.

Off sees one man, who looks to be the youngest among the three, gazing off into the distance. He bows meekly but avoided Off's eyes before stifling a yawn. Within seconds, Off watches the boy shake his head as if trying to eliminate the last traces of sleep from his system.

'Disinterested. Not this one then.'

He inspects another one. This one carries a box of what seems to be cookies in his hand. Off likes this one already because of that alone. He hopes he's here for Mix.

"Yes, sir."

Cookie guy speaks up and offers the box to Off before continuing, "I'm Podd. These are my friends Earth and Bright." He notes Podd's politeness and smiles, but Off soon sees the man break into a wide smile when Khaotung emerges from his son's bedroom with Mix in tow.

'Okay, so no. Bummer.'

"Papa, stop ogling them." Mix approaches the living room and sees his father inspecting the three. He knew this would happen. It's clear, what his papa's doing. He's playing the role of "overprotective father" but Mix knows that the intimidation doesn't carry much weight in it. Off really does it for the laughs and nothing more.

Off's eyes then trail to the last man. He catches this one staring at Mix and senses a hint of playfulness in his eyes. The old man watches them trade knowing glances. For a few seconds, the two seemed to invalidate the existence of everyone else around them.

Only one thing could explain his son's look and that little pout on his face right now.

'This. It's this one.'

He observes them for a few seconds more and remarks loudly, "Yup. This works."

"Papa!" Mix mutters under his breath and glares at his father, knowing exactly what he meant. He avoids Earth's eyes. He doesn't want to know if the other has caught on.

"We'll be late, papi. Let them be." Gun waltzes into the room carrying a dog in his arm and greets everyone. Mix takes Bibii from him and Gun proceeds to cup Mix's face in his hands before planting little kisses all over it.

Mix laughs and embraces his dad, "It's two hours away, dad." Gun pouts and goes in for another extended hug.

"Still," Gun starts, "We'll try to come and visit soon with enough food to last you a full week, okay? Promise me you wouldn't live off take-outs until then?"

"Yes, dad. I'm learning how to cook."

"I don't think boiling water for noodles counts as cooking." Khaotung teases Mix and the latter could only glare. He's been glaring a lot already and it isn't even 10 AM yet.

Mix could suddenly feel Bibii's body stiffen as she inspects the three visitors. Within seconds, she's growling and barking at them, her little body shaking immensely.

Gun laughs this off and takes Bibii from Mix before apologizing to their guests, "Don't mind Bibii, she gets feisty around tall people. For some reason."

"Which means she hates me as well," Win carries one of the boxes into the living room. As if on cue, Bibii turns to Win and directs a subdued growl at him. The boy laughs but proceeds to pet their dog.

"I'm Win." The three men took turns shaking Win's hand and introducing themselves. Podd and Earth observe Bright, who is usually very collected, stumbling on his words. And surprisingly, even blushing.