The Bad Son (Book 2)

Chapter 46

Gonhin stared at him. He looked at the two coffees on the counter in front of him. He was frozen. Tul looked the same... a few more wrinkles around the eyes and mouth, but fuck, he even wore his hair the same way. He would recognize him anywhere.

Why did he come to his place of work? Slowly he made his hands move. "Sir, that will be 100 bhat." Wait? What did he just say? It was too much. Tul didn't even bat an eye and slid the note to him.

"I know you have a break now." Tul said. "I talked to your co-worker. Take the other coffee, come join me." 

Gonhin snorted. Young Master Tul, used to bossing people... never asking. Then suddenly, Tul turned around at the door and winked. "Please, join me. I do believe we have some things to discuss." His heart stuttered and began to beat.

"Fuck my life." He whispered.

"Pardon me?" His co-worker, a young lady was shocked. She had worked with Gonhin for over a year. In the whole time, not once had she heard him swear. Not with anyone, even the bad customers, who swore at him. Not even at customers who made other cashiers quit. "Are you alright, Hin?"

Nodding, he took off his apron, and placed it in its cubby hole. Then he took up the coffee. "I'll be back shortly. If you need help, I'm outside."

"I got this. Enjoy your break." She wondered who the handsome man was. It was the very first time he had company. All the other staff had frequent visitors. She sighed. She had a crush on Hin, but he blew her off. He was so nice, but unfortunately, it was to everyone, equally.

Tul popped his head back in. "Enough stalling. I am talking the whole 15 minutes, young lady."

She smiled and waved. "Hin, go!" He sighed and walked faster. He didn't want to see him. Tin's meeting last night was still fresh in his mind. It had cost a lot to repair the door before work.

Gonhin sat down across from him. "What do you want?"

"Tin sends his apologies for losing his temper last night." Tul shrugged. "I guess I should not have gotten drunk and broken my word."

"You swore you would never drink. You saw what it did." Gonhin flinched in memory.

"Do you think that matters if you want to forget? I wanted to forget a lot of things, Gonhin. I think I can relate to your father now. I have even more sympathy for your mother and you. My own son hates me the way you hated your father and I can't change it." Tul shrugged.

"Then why are you drinking?" 

"You."

"What? That's bullshit."

"Really? Why'd you think that?"

"Not once did you come and see me. Not one letter, not even one attempt at communication while I was incarcerated. I wrote to you. Hundreds of letters." Gonhin's hands twisted.

Tul burst out laughing. "Do you think that I would get them? Honestly? With that bitch in the house?"

"I didn't send them there. I sent them to your grandmother. I thought she might be fond enough of my mother to forward them on." His voice broke. "She didn't, did she?"

"Tin said the house was wired for both sound and video surveillance. Nothing escaped her notice. Nothing." Tul paused. "I did see you once though, at your mother's funeral. I stayed in the back, crying. I couldn't look at you in shackles. It hurt too much."

"You were there?" 

Tul nodded. "Yes. It was my only chance to see you. Father couldn't stop me." He glanced at his watch. "Why did you wait months after Tin first gave you my number?"